Sasso Corbaro Castle, Medieval fortress in Bellinzona, Switzerland
Sasso Corbaro is a medieval fortress perched on a rocky hilltop in Bellinzona with thick stone walls and square towers arranged around a central courtyard. The structure includes residential quarters and defensive positions connected by passage ways that follow the natural slope of the hill.
The fortress was built in 1479 as part of a defensive system designed to stop Swiss confederates from advancing toward Milan. It was one of three major strongholds built during this period to control and protect the valley from rival powers.
Visitors experience the castle as a place where medieval defensive life unfolded, walking through spaces designed for both protection and daily residence. The fortress shows how people of that era combined military function with domestic needs in a single structure high above the valley.
Visitors can reach the castle on foot via hiking trails or by using the local tourist train that connects it to nearby fortresses. The paths are well marked and accessible from below, with clear signs showing the main entrance.
A remarkable feature is the Sala Emma Poglia, a 17th-century room with walnut wall paneling that was moved to the fortress in 1944. This richly decorated space reveals how the fortress served later as a residence for people of wealth and taste.
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