Gualdo Cattaneo, Medieval fortress complex in Umbria, Italy
Gualdo Cattaneo is a municipality in Umbria with twelve castles scattered across hills and a triangular fortress at its core containing three connected towers. Structures from different periods define the landscape.
The name Gualdo comes from the Germanic word 'wald', meaning the dense forests that covered this region in the early Middle Ages. The fortifications developed later as control structures for the area.
The parish church displays Romanesque features from the 13th century and houses artworks by Niccolò di Liberatore. These religious pieces shape the character of the town center today.
The location sits at 446 meters elevation near Perugia and is reachable via local roads. The hilly surroundings mean that exploring the different castles requires some willingness to walk.
Inside the Castello di Ceralto stands an old holm oak that ranks among the largest of its kind in the region. This tree serves as a silent witness to the centuries that have passed at this location.
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