Conegliano Castle, Medieval fortress in Conegliano, Italy

Conegliano Castle is a medieval fortress on the Colle di Giano hill, overlooking the town of Conegliano in the Treviso province of the Veneto. Towers and sections of wall have survived, and the site sits high enough to give a wide view over the surrounding hills and valleys.

The earliest records of the fortress date to the 12th century. Of the original complex only the Torre della Campana, part of the old cathedral and part of the perimeter walls survive; its earlier appearance and development are reconstructed from pictorial evidence.

The hill on which the castle sits takes its name from Janus, the Roman god of passages and beginnings, suggesting the site had meaning long before medieval times. Today visitors come here to look out over the Prosecco wine country that surrounds Conegliano on all sides.

The castle is reached on foot from Conegliano's town center, and the path up the hill is fairly steep. Solid shoes make the walk more comfortable, and it is worth leaving enough time to go slowly and enjoy the views on the way up.

On a clear day, the Dolomites and the Po Valley are both visible from the castle at the same time, in opposite directions. This double view in contrasting landscapes is what made this hill worth fortifying in the first place.