Castello dei Doria, Medieval fortress in Castelsardo, Italy
Castello dei Doria is a medieval fortress built on a limestone ridge on the northern coast of Sardinia, looking out over the Gulf of Asinara. Thick stone walls and towers wrap around the hilltop on which the town of Castelsardo grew.
The Doria family, powerful merchants from Genoa, had the fortress built in the 12th century to control shipping routes along the Sardinian coast. Over the following centuries, the castle changed hands several times, passing to Aragonese and later Spanish rulers.
Inside the castle, a museum displays baskets and everyday objects made by Sardinian craftspeople, showing the traditional crafts of the region. The weaving techniques on show are still passed down in Castelsardo today.
Reaching the castle means walking up through the narrow lanes of the old town, which is steep but manageable on foot for most visitors. There is little shade at the top, so going early in the morning or in the late afternoon makes the visit more comfortable.
The fortress was originally called Castelgenovese by the Genoese, and the town itself kept that name for several centuries. It was only after Genoese rule ended that the name was changed to Castelsardo, partly to erase the memory of the Doria family's hold over the place.
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