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1
Royal Palace of Caserta
Caserta · Campania
Begun in 1752 by Luigi Vanvitelli, this colossal 1,200-room royal residence served as a self-sufficient Bourbon city.
94
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2
Castel del Monte
Andria · Puglia
Frederick II's 13th-century octagonal masterpiece in Apulia is a UNESCO site of sheer mathematical perfection.
92
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3
Palazzo Ducale
Venice · Veneto
The Doge's Palace in Venice derives its name from its historical function as the seat or residence of a duke.
92
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4
Royal Palace of Venaria
Venaria Reale · Piedmont
Rescued by the largest restoration in European history, this 17th-century Savoy hunting estate is a Baroque masterpiece.
90
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5
Miramare Castle
Trieste · Friuli Venezia Giulia
A 19th-century royal residence built for Archduke Maximilian of Austria, featuring a botanical park on the Adriatic.
88
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6
Palazzo dei Normanni e Cappella Palatina
Palermo · Sicily
Europe's oldest royal residence houses a spectacular Arab-Norman-Byzantine chapel, designated a UNESCO site in 2015.
88
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7
Palazzo Ducale e Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
Urbino · Marche
A Renaissance masterpiece commissioned by Federico da Montefeltro, dominating Urbino and housing the National Gallery.
88
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8
Via Garibaldi e i Palazzi dei Rolli
Genoa · Liguria
An innovative network of aristocratic palaces used to host visiting monarchs and popes during Genoa's golden age.
86
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9
Rocca Calascio
Calascio · Abruzzo
The highest fortress in the Apennines is a 10th-century military stronghold overlooking the Gran Sasso National Park.
84
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10
Este Castle
Ferrara · Emilia-Romagna
Built in 1385 around four imposing towers, this moated medieval fortress is the Renaissance centerpiece of Ferrara.
83
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11
Bard Fortress
Bard · Aosta Valley
Rebuilt in the 19th century, this imposing Savoy fortress is a masterpiece of military engineering in the Aosta Valley.
82
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12
Buonconsiglio Castle
Trento · Trentino-South Tyrol
Seat of the Prince-Bishops for five centuries, this is the largest fortified complex in the Alps and a symbol of Trento.
82
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13
Fénis Castle
Fénis · Aosta Valley
A 14th-century pentagonal castle famous for its double crenellated walls and the frescoed inner courtyard.
80
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14
Palazzo dei Consoli
Gubbio · Umbria
Built between 1332 and 1349, this towering Gothic civic palace houses the municipal museum and the rare Iguvine Tablets.
79
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15
Melfi Castle
Melfi · Basilicata
The fortress where Frederick II promulgated the Constitutions of Melfi in 1231, now home to the Archaeological Museum.
77
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16
Castello dei conti di Modica
Modica · Sicily
The fortress-prison that ruled the powerful County of Modica for centuries, with cells cut into the rock.
50
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17
castello dei Luna
Sciacca · Sicily
The scant remains of Sciacca's castle, tied to the bloody feud between the Luna and Perollo families.
50
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18
castello di Pietrarossa
Caltanissetta · Sicily
It hosted the general Parliaments of Sicily three times, in 1295, 1361 and 1378.
48
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19
castello di Terra
Trapani · Sicily
A twelfth-century medieval fortress on the Trapani seafront, built over a Carthaginian fortification.
48
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20
castello della Solicchiata
Adrano · Sicily
Built around 1875 by Baron Spitaleri, this lava-stone castle named the Solicchiata wine.
47
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21
Castello Normanno di Adrano
Adrano · Sicily
A Norman donjon of 1070, raised for Roger I, now home to Adrano's archaeological museum.
47
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22
Castello di Misilmeri
Misilmeri · Sicily
An Arab-Norman fortress built by Emir Jafar II between 998 and 1019 overlooking the Eleuterio River valley.
43