Castle of Fossa, Medieval castle in Fossa, Italy

The Castle of Fossa occupies the highest part of Fossa on the eastern slope of Mount Circolo. Its walls, 8 to 10 metres high and over a metre thick, enclose a trapezoidal area with four square towers; two lower towers also served as dwellings. The circular keep rises 17 metres and was reached by a retractable staircase and a drawbridge.

The castle is the product of medieval encastellation: its keep and trapezoidal walled enclosure, holding the first houses, date to the early 12th century. The village later grew outside the walls. The keep is dated to the 12th-13th century, the rest of the structure to the late 13th or early 14th century. Similar enclosure castles stand at San Pio delle Camere, Barisciano and Bominaco.

The fortress grew from a medieval settlement that developed upon the remains of the ancient Roman city of Aveia. Walking through it, you sense the layering of two distinct historical periods in the same space.

Visit in dry conditions since the hilltop location means steep slopes and uneven terrain throughout the site. Sturdy footwear is essential for safely navigating the old stone surfaces and any loose stone along the paths.

The circular keep, 17 metres high and over 8 metres in diameter, had no door at ground level: it was entered by a wooden staircase kept inside and withdrawn after use, and a drawbridge linked it to the wall-top walkway. Two of the four square towers of the enclosure also served as dwellings.