UNESCO-listed Castles Of Bellinzona

The UNESCO-listed Castles of Bellinzona are best understood as one system rather than three separate buildings. Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro, together with the long defensive walls between them, formed a complete barrier across the valley of the Ticino, and the whole group was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 because it is among the best-preserved examples of medieval military architecture in the Alpine region. Reading the group as a single plan is the key to a good visit.

Start at Castelgrande, the oldest and largest of Switzerland’s great Alpine fortresses. It rises from a rocky hill at the edge of the old town, and its walls and towers, including the Torre Bianca, the White Tower, and the Torre Nera, the Black Tower, can be seen from much of the valley. Inside are courtyards, a museum of local history and archaeology, a restaurant and a large open space that is used for events. From its ramparts you see the roofs of the old town and the line of the walls climbing the hillside to Montebello. This is the best place to understand the geography of the valley and why it mattered.

Montebello Castle, the middle castle, is reached by climbing through the old town. It is connected to the walls and has its own gates, a drawbridge and towers, and its interior holds a small museum. Sasso Corbaro stands apart on a rocky outcrop higher up the slope, a squarer and more compact fortress with a commanding view of the whole valley and the lake plain to the south. Built in the late 15th century by the Dukes of Milan, it is the youngest of the three. A long wall, the Murata, once closed the valley floor to the river, completing the barrier, and parts of it can still be traced.

A good plan is to see Castelgrande in the morning, walk through the old town to Montebello and then continue uphill to Sasso Corbaro, finishing with the view. The climb is steep in places, so allow time and bring water. Information panels explain the history at each site, and some events and exhibitions take place through the season. Interiors have seasonal opening times, so check the official information before you go.

In a corner of Europe where Switzerland meets the Italian lands, the old town and its Saturday market, the Villa dei Cedri museum and the Fortini della Fame fortifications are close, so the castles can be the centre of a full day in Bellinzona. They suit history lovers, families who like castles and photographers looking for views.