precious-postcards

Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona

The Bellinzona site consists of a group of fortifications grouped around the castle of Castelgrande, which stands on a rocky peak looking out over the entire Ticino valley. Running from the castle, a series of fortified walls protect the ancient town and block the passage through the valley. A second castle (Montebello) forms an integral part of the fortifications, while a third but separate castle (Sasso Corbaro) was built on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other fortifications.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/884

The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-town of Bellinzone are the well-preserved remnants of a defensive stronghold guarding a main pass in the Alps. The earliest constructions that have survived date from the ca. the 10th century. During the remainder of the Middle Ages, the fortifications and town expanded.

The three inscribed castles are:

- Castelgrande (13th century)

- Montebello (ca. 1300)

- Sasso Corbaro (1480)

Also, two-thirds of the original Town Ramparts (with towers) and a defensive wall called La Murata are part of the designated area.

The site's world heritage status was held back at the first discussions in 1999: the restorations "seemed to favour the picturesque to the detriment of authenticity". 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/bellinzone.html