When we were returning from our trip to France we stopped in Bellinzona to visit its complex of fortifications, constructed by the families Visconti and Sforza, that defend the town and the river Ticino valley. The biggest and most ancient castle is Castelgrande, constructed on a rock, that consist in two towers (Black and White), a space divided by walls in three courts, an arsenal, a Redoubt and the remains of the foundations of two chapels. There starts the remains of the Murata, a long defensive wall that crossed all over the valley. The Montebello castle, constructed on another rock, is lozenge-shaped and has a keep, moats and walls. From there start all the town walls, with some towers. The square Sasso Corbaro Castle, constructed by B. Ferrini on a highest rock, consists in a keep and its walls.

I was a little bit disappointed by the castles, maybe because I imagined them more decorated, but their architecture is of high quality and impressiveness. They are in a very good state of conservation and their authenticity is very high. They justify the inscription because they are masterpieces of the military architecture and are worth to be visited if you are in the Canton of Tessin. It is easy to reach them because Bellinzona is the capital city of the region and there are some exits on the highway A2. You can park near the centre and you don't have to walk to the top of the hill of the Castelgrande because there are some lifts going there from the square Piazza del Sole in the centre. You can reach by foot the castle of Montebello from Piazza Collegiata, while you can go by car to the castle of Sasso Corbaro from the street Via Lugano.

Photo: Bellinzona - Castelgrande