{"id":6091,"date":"2026-11-12T16:57:34","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T16:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/castelli-rocche-dintorni-bracciano\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T17:09:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T17:09:37","slug":"castles-fortresses-around-bracciano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/castles-fortresses-around-bracciano\/","title":{"rendered":"Castles and fortresses to visit around Bracciano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you already visited the magnificent Orsini-Odescalchi Castle<\/a>? If you are passionate about history, architecture and aristocratic residences, it’s time to venture a little further afield and discover other places that tell the story of these lands, with their aristocratic families, battles and ancient feudal domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less than an hour’s drive from Bracciano, you will find several fortifications, some perfectly preserved and others reduced to evocative ruins, each with its own features and history waiting to be discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have selected six castles and fortresses around Bracciano, each offering an interesting stop along the way to explore the area’s historical and architectural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocca dei Vico in Trevignano Romano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rocca dei Vico<\/strong>, also known as Rocca Orsini, is one of Lazio’s most romantic lost castles. It stands on a steep volcanic tuff hill overlooking the ancient village of Trevignano Romano and Lake Bracciano. It was built around 1200 at the behest of Pope Innocent III, with the aim of strengthening his power in the Roman province, and was further enhanced during the rule of the Orsini family. The damage caused by Giovanni Borgia’s troops in 1497, together with years of abandonment, weathering and several earthquakes, led to its gradual deterioration, eventually reducing it to a collection of ruins. It can only be reached on foot, by climbing the staircase that starts at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. You won’t find frescoed rooms or period furnishings, but the panoramic views alone make the walk worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Castello Ruspoli in Cerveteri<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here the landscape changes: leaving the lake behind, we head into the heart of Etruria. Located in the historic centre of Cerveteri, in Piazza Santa Maria, Castello Ruspoli<\/strong> is a fortified complex that preserves traces of different historical periods. Its oldest section is the 13th-century fortress, characterised by towers, battlements and defensive structures. Particularly interesting are some sections of the Etruscan walls, dating back to the 4th century BC, which were incorporated into the later medieval fortifications. Inside, the National Cerite Archaeological Museum traces the history of the town and its inhabitants through a valuable collection of artefacts from the local necropolises. Among its most important exhibits are the famous Euphronios krater and the kylix (a monumental drinking cup), also attributed to Euphronios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santa Severa Castle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing scenery once again, we make our way to the Tyrrhenian coast, home to Santa Severa Castle<\/strong>, one of the most representative monumental complexes along the Lazio coastline. Located in the hamlet of the same name, within the municipality of Santa Marinella, it stands on the ruins of the ancient Etruscan port of Pyrgi. It takes its name from the young Christian martyr Severa who, according to tradition, was martyred in this very area in 298 AD. The origins of the castle date back to around the 10th\u201311th centuries, while the structure we see today dates from the 14th century. Enclosed within three concentric walls, which also surround a village and the remains of an early Christian church, it houses the Museum of the Sea and Ancient Navigation, the Pyrgi Antiquarium and the Museum of the Territory. A little curiosity: the castle provided the backdrop for several scenes in the TV series Medici<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocca dei Borgia in Nepi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heading towards the Tuscia area of the province of Viterbo, we arrive in Nepi, a village known for its naturally effervescent mineral waters but above all for the Rocca dei Borgia<\/strong>. The fortress takes its name from the Spanish family whose cardinal Rodrigo (the future Pope Alexander VI) was responsible for the first major renovation works, begun in 1479. The structure rests on foundations of Roman origin, built along the Via Amerina. Despite having suffered looting, destruction and a long period of abandonment, it still retains an imposing presence today. Among its illustrious guests was Lucrezia Borgia, one of the most fascinating, complex and controversial female figures of the Italian Renaissance. Visits to the fortress are organised through the Nepi Civic Museum, which manages access according to its opening hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rocca Frangipane in Tolfa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the castles and fortresses to visit around Bracciano, Rocca Frangipane<\/strong> also deserves a mention. Perched atop a spectacular trachyte hill, it overlooks the village of Tolfa from above. This typical medieval fortress dates back to the 9th century and was renovated in the 15th century, along with the village walls, by the Frangipane brothers, Pietro and Ludovico. For a long time, the structure played an important defensive role, protecting the settlement and serving as its last line of defence in the event of an attack. Today, the original castle lies in ruins, and only the cylindrical keep, enclosed within battlemented walls, and part of the central building remain. Next to the remains of the fortification stands the small Sanctuary of Madonna della Rocca, which houses a valuable painting attributed to the Carracci brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Castello Ruspoli in Vignanello<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located in northern Lazio, just over 40 kilometres from our hotel, Castello Ruspoli<\/strong> in Vignanello is one of the most elegant historic residences in the Tuscia area. The first records of the building date back to the 13th century, but its present appearance is the result of works carried out in the 16th century, probably based on a design by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, commissioned by Count Sforza Marescotti and his mother-in-law, Beatrice. The quadrangular building features four bastions and Ghibelline battlements and is surrounded by a moat. Its true gem, however, is the Renaissance garden, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. Commissioned in 1611 by Ottavia Orsini, it is divided into 12 rectangular parterres bordered by mixed hedges (myrtle, cherry laurel, boxwood and viburnum). At the centre stands a peperino stone fishpond with four arches, surrounded by a balustrade, possibly designed by Vignola.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are just some of the destinations that can be reached in less than an hour from our hotel. Bracciano is an excellent starting point for exploring the wonders of the Lazio region.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contact us for information<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you already visited the magnificent Orsini-Odescalchi Castle? If you are passionate about history, architecture and aristocratic residences, it’s time to venture a little further afield and discover other places that tell the story of these lands, with their aristocratic families, battles and ancient feudal domains. Less than an hour’s drive from Bracciano, you will …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"loftocean_post_format_gallery":"","loftocean_post_format_gallery_ids":"","loftocean_post_format_gallery_urls":"","loftocean_post_format_video_id":0,"loftocean_post_format_video_url":"","loftocean_post_format_video_type":"","loftocean_post_format_video":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_type":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_url":"","loftocean_post_format_audio_id":0,"loftocean_post_format_audio":"","loftocean-like-count":0,"cozystay_single_post_hide_site_header":"","cozystay_single_post_site_header_source":"","cozystay_single_post_custom_site_header":"0","cozystay_single_post_custom_sticky_site_header":"0","cozystay_single_post_hide_page_title":"","cozystay_single_post_site_footer_hide_main":"","cozystay_single_custom_site_footer_main_source":"","cozystay_single_custom_site_footer_main":"0","cozystay_single_post_site_footer_hide_above":"","cozystay_single_custom_site_footer_above_source":"","cozystay_single_custom_site_footer_above":"0","cozystay_single_post_site_footer_hide_instagram":"","cozystay_single_post_site_footer_hide_bottom":"","cozystay_single_custom_mobile_menu_source":"","cozystay_single_custom_mobile_menu":"0","cozystay_single_custom_mobile_menu_animation":"","cozystay_single_custom_mobile_menu_width":"","cozystay_single_custom_mobile_menu_custom_width":375,"cozystay_single_post_template":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-itineraries"],"aioseo_notices":[],"loftoceanMetas":{"authorName":"info@salvatoremenale.it","categories":[{"name":"Itineraries","link":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/category\/itineraries\/","count":43}],"date":"November 12, 2026","featuredImageSRC":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Castello-di-Santa-Severa-\u00a9-Canva-150x150.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6091"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6104,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6091\/revisions\/6104"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albergodellaposta.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}