
The picturesque capital of the Ticino region of Switzerland is home to one of the greatest surviving examples of medieval fortification, the Three Castles of Bellinzona. Due to its strategic location, Bellinzona has always been a key trading center and the three castles and walls that surround the ancient city were constructed throughout the years to fortify the area. Although the area has been occupied since the Neolithic age it wasn’t until the late 1st century BC, under Roman Emperor Augustus, that the first fort was built in the area. The three castles, walls and ramparts were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000 as outstanding examples of late medieval defensive structures and are composed of Castelgrande, castle Montebello and Sasso Corbaro.
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