Castello di Monteventano, Medieval castle in Piozzano, Italy.
Castello di Monteventano is a medieval stronghold perched on a hilltop at 420 meters elevation with a soaring central tower of roughly 30 meters. Thick defensive walls punctuated with arrow slits surround the compound, protecting the structures within including a small church.
Frederick Barbarossa razed the original fortress in 1164, after which it was reconstructed and progressively converted into a county seat over the following centuries. This transformation marked the shift from a simple defensive site to a center of regional power.
The church within the walls honors the birth of Mary and gained its parish standing in the early 16th century, making it the spiritual center of the surrounding area. You can still see how the religious building shaped daily life for those living here.
Plan your visit during milder months as winter weather can make mountain roads more challenging and less predictable. Good hiking shoes are recommended since the approach involves uphill walking and uneven surfaces throughout the site.
The German painter Bernd Zimmer, a co-founder of the Neuen Wilden artistic movement, is the current owner of this national heritage site. His stewardship brings a contemporary artistic perspective to a place steeped in centuries of feudal history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
