looking for guidance for castles to visit in Italy for our May 06 trip. What are your favorites?

ttt

I've only ever driven by (some of) these... but it's a good starter list:

http://www.initaly.com/regions/taa/castles.htm

Best wishes,

Rex

Here's a comprehensive link to castles in Tuscany.

http://www.castellitoscani.com/

In the Chianti region , Castello Brolio is very impressive, set in very beautiful countryside. You can access a very small part of the castello in a tour. It's also the home of teh Brolio / Ricasoli wine family.
Here's a link with a very stunning opening page of the castello.

http://www.ricasoli.it/

Nearby is Meleto, smaller, but you can tour more rooms inside the castello, and again, beautiful surrondings and a wine tasting is included. There are several in the Tuscan area but hese 2 are my favorites. Plus I have to explore more in the future.

In Montalcino, the Fortezza , which is very simple, but the ramparts offer great views over the valley and a Enoteca inside the Fortezza.

At the top of Assisi there is the Rocca. Large fortress in a strategic position that overlooks Assisi.

In Milan there is the Fortezza, can't recall the particular name. Center of town, very large, with musuems inside.

In Varrena on Lake Como, Castello Vezio. Very small, but great postion over Varenna & the lake.

I haven't been, but we originally planned to go to the town of Bracciano, near Rome, and see its castle. It looks fairly impressive. Here is the link:

http://www.lakebracciano.com/lakebra.../paesi_en.html

Tracy