San Giovanni Castle

Bondone, Italy

San Giovanni Castle, located on a high rock spur near Bondone, has a breathtaking panorama. It was first mentioned in 1086 and formally in 1189. In the 15th century the castle was occupied by Milanese troops. The abandoned and decayed castle was bought by entrepreneur Milan Luigi Cavalli in 1956 who began a renovation to turn it into a private residence. Today it can be visited.

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Address

Via Lago 29, Bondone, Italy
See all sites in Bondone

Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Petter Skaatan Mathisen (6 months ago)
Nice and lovely view
Petr Mach (2 years ago)
Tinny, but lovely fortress/castle above the lake D’Idro. Ideal for short walk during the day. The place provode a unique view on the lake and its surroundings. The trail starting at the bottom of the lake is pretty steep. Going back same way could be a little bit discomfortable, for less skilled hikers evend dangerous.
Eli Kaplan (2 years ago)
Quite a long walk up there, but the view is breathtaking
Jacob Chr. Rørdam (2 years ago)
Nice little (but steep) walk from the parking lot outside Camping Miralago. Beautiful view from the castle and interesting video telling the castle's history.
Francesca Scalmazzi (3 years ago)
Beautiful castle, accessed on foot with a 20-minute walk (1 km) along a forest road, breathtaking views of Lake Idro and the Valle del Chiese with all its countryside. Inside the castle there is an exhibition on the Anthropocene, you can see the botanical garden with its various species and there is the preparation of a Carbonaia, used for the production of coal in the Borgo di Bondone. Admission is free, from 1 June to 31 October 2022, from 9 to 18 Coordinated by the staff and the caretakers, thanks to the Municipality that puts a lot of passion to keep a historic place open in a clean and free way
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Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

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