Switzerland: Bellinzona
The town of Bellinzona is famous for its three interconnected medieval castles tha are together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site – castle Castelgrande, castle Montebello, castle Sasso Corbaro and all the fortified walls. The three castles were built in 13-15th centuries to protect an important alpine trade route, effectively blocking it and controlling it at the same time. The castles were then further enhanced with a double circuit of walls. You can climb onto the walls for some super panoramic views of the castles and the town below. Besides the castles, the old town is also worth exploring – with magnificent Sta Maria delle Grazie church with wall paintings by 16th-century Lombard artists.
