Castello di Las Plassas, Medieval castle in Las Plassas, Italy.
Castello di Las Plassas is a ruined medieval castle set on top of a cone-shaped hill in the Marmilla region of central Sardinia. What remains today includes sections of stone walls and the bases of defensive towers that once enclosed the hilltop.
The castle was already standing before 1172 and served as a stronghold of the Giudicato of Arborea, one of Sardinia's medieval kingdoms. After Arborea fell to the Aragonese in 1409, the fortress lost its strategic role and was gradually abandoned.
The name of the surrounding Marmilla region comes from the shape of this hill, which reminded people of a breast, the Latin word for which gave the area its name. Locals still use this name today, and visitors who look at the hill from the valley below can immediately understand why it stuck.
A marked path from the village leads up to the ruins on foot, and the climb is steep with little shade along the way. Sturdy shoes and water are worth bringing, especially if you visit during warmer months.
A small museum in the village displays objects found during excavations of the site, giving a clearer picture of how the castle was used day to day. Some of the finds suggest the hill was occupied long before the medieval fortress was built, pointing to a much older history on the same spot.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
