Sabbionara Castle, Medieval castle in Avio, Italy

Sabbionara Castle, also called Castello di Avio, stands on the Sabbionara hill above the Adige valley. Rough grey stone walls rise in tiers: a tall pale cylindrical keep with a ruined crown on the right, a broad rectangular block with a crenellated roofline and a dark arched gateway, a shorter square tower, and lower battlements stepping down around a long walled courtyard. Three rings of walls enclose five towers.

The castle was built before 1053 and later passed through several noble families, including the Castelbarco dynasty who enriched it with fine decorations. Such powerful families made the fortress an important location during medieval times.

The castle displays Gothic frescoes from the 14th century in several rooms, including the Love Room and the Guards House, created by artists from the Verona school. These artworks shape the interior character of the fortress and tell stories from medieval times.

Access to the castle is straightforward from the surrounding area, and visitors should allow time to explore the different sections. Comfortable footwear is recommended since the grounds are hilly with stone pathways.

The castle has three rings of walls and five towers, among them the Torre della Picadora, where capital sentences were once carried out by hanging. The whole complex was donated to the FAI in 1977 by Countess Emanuela di Castelbarco, granddaughter of conductor Arturo Toscanini, and the foundation began restoration work straight away.