Loretello Castle, Medieval castle in Loretello, Italy

Loretello Castle is a medieval fortification on a hilltop in the Marche region, featuring fortified walls and a circular defensive tower. The structure occupies a strategic position with mostly intact walls forming a traditional castle layout that slopes down the hillside.

The castle's construction dates to 1072, when monks of the Fonte Avellana monastery also built the church of Sant'Andrea. In 1159 a dispute with the diocese of Fossombrone arose, settled in 1185 by five papal cardinals who split ownership in half. Arcevia gained full possession in 1289. The present appearance results from 14th- and 15th-century enlargements; in the 18th century, no longer military, a three-arched access bridge was added.

The name Loretello is documented from 1072, when the monks of Fonte Avellana built the castle together with the church of Sant'Andrea. A small settlement still stands within the walls, and the castle was long run by a "Consiglio del castello", with justice and public security entrusted to a captain; administrative functions passed to Arcevia with the Kingdom of Italy.

Reaching the castle requires crossing a steep bridge to the main entrance. Guided tours offer the best way to explore the defensive structures and interior spaces.

The castle's two towers differ in purpose: the three-storey guard tower has an angled structure to resist bombard shots and a gallery linking it to nearby buildings, while the six-storey "prison" tower has narrow slits and Ghibelline merlons and was inhabited by private residents until recent times.