Castle:An intrinsic aspect of the landscape of mediaeval Italy. Castles were created not only to defend strategically important positions, but also to affirm the power of a family or town, or to indicate the territory of the Signories, the town councils or the States. The region of Lazio contains over 200 castles which were once owned by the church, or important families that lived in the zone.Nowadays, the castles and villages in Lazio represent an important part of our collective history, as well as being a precious attraction for tourists. If further promoted, it could also serve for a larger number of visitors as a means by which we might gain insight into an age as fascinating and important as the Middle Ages.

Manieri del Lazio s.r.l.
The two hundred little known castles and fortresses in Lazio represent a patrimony which could easily become an effective tourist attraction for the local area. It could, furthermore, become a means by which jobs could be created in smaller villages in the area, thereby revitalising the local economy by means of what would be a process of 'compatible development'. The goal, therefore, is to transform the castles in Lazio from being museum pieces to be 'looked after' into leading protagonists in the promotion of Lazio to tourists. With this idea in mind the association of 'Manieri del Lazio' has so far grouped together nine of the most important castles in Lazio.