King For a Day (at a time)

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by Live It! Travel

Maybe I’m just a closet romantic. Maybe I’m a bloodthirsty savage. Maybe I just love a good suit of armor. I don’t know what it is, but I just love castles and all they bring to mind. There’s nothing better than having your mind just drift back in time to when men were men and, well, lets’ just get on with it…

Living in the United States doesn’t lend itself to castle-tripping so, on a recent trip to Italy castles were on my agenda — to the joy and, sometimes, frustration of my traveling companions. Yes, there was a lot of eye-rolling. It wasn’t like I asked them to call me My Lord or Sir. I assured them that there’d be enough time for wining (because there was enough whining).

We’ve visited castles in Germany, England, Spain and New York (yes, Bannerman Castle on the Hudson) but these castles really left an impression on me — Castello Aragonese (Otranto), Castello Corigliano d’Otranto (not in Otranto), Castelvecchio (Verona) and Castello Aragonese (Castro). Maybe it was the Italian food. Maybe it was the language. Or, maybe it was just the views.

Aragonese 1
Castello Aragonese – Otranto. Otranto was the site of an Ottoman invasion and subsequent massacre in 1480 and 1481. The castle served as the base for the 18,000 or so Catholics who fought back, unsuccessfully. More than 12,000 were killed and another 5,000 were forced into slavery. Another 800 refused to convert and were massacred. They are known as the Martyrs of Otranto and the skulls and bones are on display in the cathedral of Otranto.
Otranto
The view from the Castello Aragonese – Otranto.
There was one holdover from the invasion and he’s still in lock-up.
Cortigiano d’Otranto – this castle lies in the middle of the town. There is no river, just views of the city.
Castello Corigliano d’Otranto
Interior of the castle
The castle is now used for local events.
Verona Castle
The view of the Adige River from Castelvecchio.
Castelvecchio
Castelvecchio courtyard
verona 4
Castelvecchio view
Castro
Castello Aragonese – Castro
The streets of Castro
An example of the well-preserved castle
A view from the castle.
On the inside, looking out. Castro

No, I never was referred to as My Lord or Sir and I won’t print what I was called. Needless to say, my traveling companions were as impressed with these castles as I was. Give the castles of Italy a chance.

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