The sheer number of castles scattered across Italy reflects a fragmented and often turbulent past.
Built primarily between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, these castles served as defensive strongholds, watchtowers and noble residences.
For centuries, they stood as the most striking symbols of power and wealth.
Strategically positioned on hilltops, along borders or near trade routes, they played vital military and political roles.
Today, some of these castles offer unique experiences to their guests: the history of feudal territories, rival kingdoms and noble families blends with the most advanced concepts of modern comfort and relaxation for visitors from around the world.
High-beamed halls, frescoed ceilings, original stonework and panoramic views of vineyards, olive groves, rolling hills and lake shores make castle stays one of the most captivating ways to explore the country.
Veneto (northeastern Italy)
Many of Veneto’s castles were built between the 10th and 14th centuries to defend trade routes and assert control over strategic lands.
CASTELLO BEVILACQUA Relais
This beautifully restored 14th-century castle, now a boutique hotel, is easily reached from Verona.
The castle welcomes guests with frescoed halls, ancient tapestries and elegant suites adorned with original chandeliers, bed alcoves, secret passages and evocative furnishings.
Guests can stroll through the lush hanging gardens, considered the largest in Europe, soaking in their beauty and serenity. Guided tours reveal the rich history and intriguing anecdotes behind this unique feature.
The hotel also offers a spa, fitness centre, sauna, archery and refined Mediterranean cuisine served in a captivating restaurant setting.
Room rates typically range from €180 to €230 per night for two adults, depending on the season and package.
Trentino Alto-Adige (northeastern Italy)
Castles in the region date back to medieval power struggles, built from the 11th century to guard strategic passes and valleys. Over time, they left a lasting mark on the Alpine landscape.
CASTEL PERGINE
Centuries of history enhance the charm of this beautifully preserved castle turned boutique hotel in Valsugana, one of the most enchanting spots in the Trentino Alps.
Each room is designed to immerse guests in a blend of history and comfort, while the suites take the experience further, turning a night’s stay into a true journey in the life of the castle.
The historic garden and courtyard invite relaxing strolls framed by ancient walls.
Outdoor lovers can paddle, hike, cycle or ride horses nearby.
Dining unfolds in curated historic halls serving refined regional cuisine in elegant style.
Rates start at €170.
Piedmont (northwestern Italy)
The region is home to over 500 castles. Unlike purely defensive fortresses, many were royal residences or noble estates, blending military function with Baroque elegance.
CASTELLO DAL POZZO
Centuries of noble history enrich the charisma of this neo-Gothic Tudor castle raised above Lake Maggiore in Oleggio Castello.
The resort spans three buildings, including the original castle, an 18th-century villa and restored stables.
They are set amidst 24 hectares of English-style parkland with groves, ponds and flower-lined alleys.
Elegant rooms and furnished suites feature marble bathrooms, antique décor and modern comforts, many with lake views.
Guests can unwind by the pool, stroll through the gardens or dine at one of three refined outlets including Le Fief, the gourmet restaurant.
Rates start around $280–$320 per night, rising into the $500+ range for suites during peak season.
CASTELLO DI SINIO
This 12th-century fortress turned boutique castle hotel is located in one of Piedmont’s most beautiful landscapes: the Langhe.
The castle hotel is the kingdom of chef and owner Denise Pardini, affectionately known as ‘la Castellana’, the traditional Italian title for the lady of the castle, evoking elegance, hospitality and command.
Restored with care, its stone walls, antique terracotta and chestnut-wood beams frame 14 elegant accommodations, including two suites housed in the former chapel.
High-quality cuisine and wine tastings entice guests, along with relaxing by the pool or strolling through jasmine-filled courtyard gardens.
Rates typically begin at around €200 per night, rising to €450–€550 for suites in peak season.
CASTELLO DI CASALBORGONE
Rising above the hills near Turin, this 14th-century noble residence has been transformed into a refined boutique hotel since 2019.
Lovingly restored, it offers spacious, art-filled, uniquely designed suites that blend antique elegance with modern comforts.
Guests can stroll through the gardens and vineyards of this fortress, immersed in panoramic countryside.
The hotel places a strong emphasis on fine dining and curated wine tastings.
It also offers tailored cultural experiences such as truffle hunting, cooking classes, storytelling evenings and guided art and architecture walks.
Suite rates typically start at €460 per night.
Tuscany (central Italy)
Castles here blend medieval history with refined luxury. Surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills, they offer original frescoes, towers and courtyards alongside gourmet dining, wine tastings and spa experiences.
CASTELLO BANFI – Il Borgo Hotel
Nestled in the heart of Tuscany’s Brunello wine region, this refined castle‑on‑a‑hill boutique hotel overlooks vineyards as far as the eye can see.
The hotel was created from a historic borgo attached to the working Castello: it offers 14 individually styled rooms, suites and villas with Tuscan‑elegant décor and modern comforts.
Guests enjoy exclusive access to Castello Banfi’s vineyard estate, including guided winery tours, wine tastings and privileged discounts at the on‑site enoteca.
Beyond the outdoor pool and fitness centre, services include horseback and bike tours, yoga sessions and cooking classes.
Rooms from €900, suites from €1,200.
COMO CASTELLO DEL NERO
Nestled amid the Chianti hills and surrounded by a vast Tuscan estate, this property dates back to the 12th century.
Its heritage includes original Renaissance frescoes and stone towers once belonging to the noble Del Nero family, while the interiors have been elegantly redesigned by renowned Milanese designer Paola Navone.
A fabled 400‑year‑old cedar tree greets each arrival, leading to 50 rooms and suites inspired by Tuscan décor, with terracotta floors, beamed ceilings, marble baths and preserved frescoes.
Guests can enjoy a Michelin-starred restaurant, spa, heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, wellness classes and strolls through ancient vineyards and olive groves.
Room rates start at €700, suites at €1,200.
CASTELLO DI CASOLE – A Belmond Hotel
Once a medieval fortress built atop ancient Etruscan settlements, this estate has been reimagined as a luxurious retreat nestled among olive groves and vineyards near Siena.
Guests enjoy gourmet cuisine, a spa housed in a former wine cellar, an infinity pool, fitness centre and curated cultural activities ranging from cooking classes to guided hikes.
Generously proportioned suites blend antique Tuscan charm with marble baths and views of gardens or the historic chapel.
The property also offers expansive signature villas with dedicated premium services.
Room rates start at €970, suites at €1,200 and villas at €3,800 per night.
Umbria (central Italy)
In the region, castles trace their origins to medieval feuds between communes, noble families and the Papal States. Over time, many evolved into fortified residences, preserving layers of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
CASTELLO DI RESCHIO
Tucked into the Umbrian hills near the Tuscan border, this 1,500-hectare private estate is home to a millennium-old fortress reborn as a luxurious hideaway.
The entire project is the vision of the aristocratic Austro-Hungarian Bolza family, who began restoring the estate in 1984.
Individually designed suites feature original stone walls, bespoke furnishings, marble baths and sweeping countryside views.
Guests can go horse riding, forage for wild herbs, hike through ancient forests or swim in the estate’s private lake.
The castle also offers fine dining and a Roman-style bath house set within the former wine cellars.
Room rates start at €953 per night. Suites range from €1,300 to €4,000 per night.
CASTELLO DI PETROIA
Nestled on a hillside overlooking the Apennine valleys near Gubbio, Castello di Petroia was founded in the 11th century and transformed into an elegant relais about twenty years ago.
The castle’s medieval architecture includes a striking tower, still one of the three original buildings that make up the estate.
In its vicinity are some of Umbria’s most sought-after attractions, including Gubbio and Assisi.
Its romantic rooms and handful of suites feature four-poster beds, private hot tubs and a candlelit ambience.
Guests savour gourmet cuisine in cloistered courtyards, enjoy horse riding and hiking across the 900-acre estate, unwind with spa treatments or stargaze under Umbrian skies.
Rates per night start at €135 for single rooms and go up to €310 for the larger suites.
Puglia (southern Italy)
Castles in the region reflect centuries of conquest, from Byzantine to Norman to Spanish rule. Built to defend coastal towns and inland estates, their striking architecture features thick stone walls and distinctive Moorish influences.
CASTLE ELVIRA
Perched on the St. Elia Ridge just ten minutes from Lecce, this late-19th-century pink-hued estate was meticulously restored into a boutique castle hotel in 2022.
Set amid 37 acres of woodland, olive and citrus groves in the heart of Apulian Salento, the hotel offers nine individually styled suites, including tower and garden options.
High ceilings, grand marble bathtubs, vintage furnishings and discreet modern tech are paired with a rooftop bar, multiple pools, a private cinema nestled in the wine cellar and a gourmet restaurant.
Guests also enjoy al fresco massages and curated wine tastings.
Rates per night for two guests range from €659 to €1,500.
CASTELLO DI UGENTO
The castle’s long and turbulent history spans more than a thousand years. Originally built atop ancient Messapian ruins, its circular tower dates to the 13th century and was later expanded over the centuries.
Today, the castle is a boutique retreat offering nine individually curated rooms and suites.
Each space combines vaulted ceilings and walnut furnishings with iconic pieces by Italian designers.
Guests enjoy gourmet dining in a botanical courtyard and a wine cellar.
The hotel also houses the Puglia Culinary Centre, a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen located in the castle’s historic vaulted storehouses.
Led by executive chef Odette Fada, the centre serves both hotel guests and professional students, including those from the Culinary Institute of America.
Room rates for two guests start at €350 per night.
Sicily (southern Italy)
For centuries, the region was ruled by Arab, Norman, Swabian and Spanish powers. Built to guard coasts, valleys and trade routes, its castles blended military might with exotic architectural details.
CASTELLO DI SAN MARCO
Nestled on the Ionian coast beneath Mount Etna, this lavish 17th-century castle sits within a lush two-hectare park overlooking the sea.
Its spectacular setting and historic grandeur have welcomed guests for more than three centuries.
Now a modern boutique castle hotel, it offers suites that blend Baroque elegance with state-of-the-art comforts.
On-site amenities include a private beach, infinity pool, Ayurvedic spa, tennis court and two gourmet restaurants set in the castle’s most captivating spaces.
From their suites, guests can reach the extraordinary sites of Taormina and Giardini Naxos in just minutes.
Rates per two guests, per night, start at €350.
Best Castle Hotels in Italy – Complete List by Region by Locals Insider
- Castello Bevilacqua – Veneto
- Castel Pergine – Trentino Alto-Adige
- Castello Dal Pozzo – Piedmont
- Castello di Sinio – Piedmont
- Castello di Casalborgone – Piedmont
- Castello Banfi (Il Borgo Hotel) – Tuscany
- Como Castello del Nero – Tuscany
- Castello di Casole (A Belmond Hotel) – Tuscany
- Castello di Reschio – Umbria
- Castello di Petroia – Umbria
- Castle Elvira – Puglia
- Castello di Ugento – Puglia
- Castello di San Marco – Sicily
