29 Apr Seaside castles in Italy: where to find the most beautiful ones

Italy is known and loved all over the world for its art and culture, but not everyone knows about the beautiful seaside castles that enrich our architectural heritage.

We would like to introduce you to the most beautiful and characteristic ones. Close your eyes and imagine you are in a magical dream: in the halls of a castle near the sea you are lulled by the beauty and caressed by the sound of the waves.

Italian castles are priceless and those by the sea have that extra something. It is impossible not to be enchanted by the beauty of these historic residences, which have known ancient splendour and which today are a symbol of a past that has made our country unique.

Where are the seaside castles in Italy?

From north to south, Italy is rich in treasures and among them are the castles by the sea. Some of them date back to the Middle Ages, others to the Renaissance and others to more recent times.

Let’s discover the most beautiful and characteristic ones, starting with Miramare Castle, which rises majestically over the Gulf of Trieste. We are in Friuli Venezia Giulia and it is here that we find this first castle, which is also one of the best known.

The castle, once the summer residence of the Habsburgs, is located a few kilometres from the centre of Trieste on a promontory that is part of the Miramare Nature Reserve. In addition to the architectural beauty of this castle, which protects the city of Trieste, there is also the beauty of the park, rich in vegetation and Mediterranean scrub.

On the other side, the Ligurian side, we find the Rapallo Castle. Another beautiful example of Italian seaside castles. We are in the province of Genoa, in the well-known town of Rapallo, where this beautiful building stands, famous also for the chapel of San Gaetano.

In Tuscany, on the other hand, there is a splendid medieval construction, the Castello del Boccale in Livorno. We are just a few steps from the city, in an idyllic setting. This castle on the sea, beautiful to look at and guardian of many vicissitudes, was built here. It was built in the 19th century in the classic neo-medieval style.

On the Latium coast we find the Castle of Santa Severa. We are about 50 kilometres from the capital, in the municipality of Santa Marinella. Here is this beautiful medieval structure (9th century) which, over the years, has been completely integrated into the town centre of this small village. This castle stands right on the beach of Santa Severa and is a real sight for sore eyes. Today it is possible to visit the museum and sleep in the hostel that has been built inside this castle by the sea.

Proceeding southwards you will find another Italian treasure and one of the most famous seaside castles in Italy: Castel dell’Ovo. We are in Naples and this castle is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the city.

In particular, Castel dell’Ovo is the oldest castle in Naples, as the original structure dates back to the 1st century BC, while the last fortifications were built many centuries later (18th century). Like many castles by the sea, it is now a centre for events.

Also not to be missed is the Swabian Castle of Trani. Here, too, we are in the heart of the beautiful Apulian city, a stone’s throw from the sea. This is one of the oldest Italian seaside castles, as construction of this fortress began in the 13th century. We are in the town centre and this was Trani’s prison for about a century.

Remaining in Apulia, we also recommend Castel Sant’Angelo, the symbol of the city of Taranto. This is another of Italy’s most beautiful seaside castles and its architecture is highly recognisable. The castle was built in 1400 on Byzantine ruins and to this day has not undergone any major changes. Only one tower was demolished to allow the construction of the Taranto swing bridge.

n Calabria we find the breathtaking beauty of the Ruffo Castle, which dominates the entire Strait of Messina. An imposing and elegant construction that enriches the panorama and makes it extremely elegant.

These are just some of the many seaside castles in Italy. Their history is always very fascinating and changes from structure to structure.

 A little bit of history

What all these fortresses have in common is their role, or rather what they were created for. Although today almost all of these seaside castles have been reinvented as exhibition or event spaces, museum centres and much more, they were once the strong point of the city’s defence. From that privileged position, the nobles and powerful could be protected, immediately spotting potential enemies arriving by sea.

Not only that. They are real fortified buildings that over the years have also served as prisons in some cases. In any case, these castles are a symbol of Italy’s cultural heritage and the tourists who come to our country love to discover them.

Seaside castles are of inestimable architectural and cultural value, but they are also pieces of history that tell a lot about the place where they stand. Just like the coastal towers, they are all worth discovering, one after the other from the north to the south of our beautiful peninsula.