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The area of Lunigiana, between Tuscany and Liguria, is often referred to as the "land of a hundred castles". Arguably the most spectacular of Lunigiana's fortified edifices is that of Fosdinvovo, near Sarzana. Here, in the 12th century, the Malaspina family erected a magnificent stronghold, enlarged during the Renaissance to serve as both fortress and royal palace. The castle is still owned by members of the Torrigiani-Malaspina family, who are deservedly proud of the building's illustrious past, and the times when the castle offered refuge to none other than the exiled Dante Alighieri. A tour of the Renaissance courtyard, frescoed halls, dining room (complete with a collection of 17th century pharmacy ceramics), bedrooms, torture room and external walkways with views of the sea of Liguria, evokes the memory of legends associated with the castle. The most poignant of these tales tells the ill-fated love story of Lady Bianca Maria Alosia, the daughter of Jacopo Malaspina and Oliva Grimaldi, and a young man of humble origins. The discovery of this decidedly unsuitable liaison resulted in the pair being tortured. Bianca was walled up, alive, in a castle cell, together with a dog, the symbol of fidelity and a wild boar, the symbol of rebellion. It is said that the ghost of Bianca Maria Alosia, her long hair flowing, continues to haunt the castle. (www.castellodifosdinovo.it)

The Castle of Poppi, in the heart of the Casentino, is one of Tuscany's most beautiful fortified edifices. Dating back to the 12th century, Poppi Castle has an incredibly well conserved dry moat, drawbridge, mullioned windows and original wooden balconies. The history of the fortress is linked to that of the Conti Guidi family who lived here for over 400 years. Like all ancient castles, Poppi Castle has its own resident ghost: that of the licentious Metelda who, legend has it, used to hurl her unfortunate lovers into a well when she had finished with them. This anti-social practice resulted in her being locked up in the tower by the disgruntled locals. It is said that her restless spirit stills roams the castle, looking for gullible young men to seduce. (www.castellodipoppi.it)

Other members of the Guidi dynasty, this time from the collateral branch Guidi di Bagno, took over from the Malatesta family as owners of the Castle of Montebello. This edifice is sited on the high plains between Romagna and the Marche, close to the Adriatic coast. The fortress lies not far away from other, more famous, strongholds such as those of Gradara and San Leo where Cagliostro was imprisoned. Montebello Castle conserves the legends and secrets which make it one of the most mysterious in the whole of Italy. Within its walls, visitors can still come across ancient strongboxes and chests dating back to the time of the crusades, concealed passageways, sudden pit holes, and the Azzurrina tunnel. The tunnel was named after Guendalina (also known as Azzurrina, on account of the bluish shade of her eyes and hair), who was the young daughter of the Feudal chief Uguccione. In 1375, the girl mysteriously disappeared whilst chasing after a ball which had rolled into one of the castle's underground passageways. Legend has it that, since the time of her disappearance, every five years during the summer solstice, Guendalina's ghost reappears. During the tour of the castle visitors are able to listen to the recordings of what some believe to be the lost child's cries. (www.castellomontebello.com)

Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo was built as mausoleum for the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century B.C. Over the centuries the immense cylindrical edifice was transformed into a quite unassailable fortress and an imposing papal residence, complete with covered fortified corridor linked to the Vatican palaces, which, in case of danger, provided a strategic escape route for the Pope. The name of the castle is linked to the legendary tale of a miraculous apparition of an angel, who drew an end to the plague raging through the city during the pontificate of Gregorio Magno. In the past, Castel Sant'Angelo has served as a much feared prison, in which the most gruesome of tortures and executions were carried out and in this guise, was chosen as the setting for one of the greatest Italian operas, Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca". It was in fact here that the painter Cavaradossi was imprisoned and shot, his death prompting his distraught lover, Tosca, to throw herself off the castle terrace. Today the castle is home to the National Museum of Castel Sant Angelo, in which a number of impressive art collections are housed. (www.castelsantangelo.com)

The history of Naples' Castell dell'Ovo is linked to an ancient of tale of how, on the tiny islet of Megaride on which the castle is constructed, the body of the mermaid Partenope was found. The origins of the castle date back to the times of the Dukedom of Naples. It owes its name, "The Egg Castle", to the magician Virgilio who, according to the legend, hid a magic egg in a cage, proclaiming that all the time it remained intact the city of Naples, and the castle, would be free of disaster. Other popular stories regarding the castle, include the 15th century queens, Giovanna I and Giovanna II, who had the unpleasant habit of throwing their lovers down the castle's secret tunnels, as soon as they began to tire of them. Today, Castel dell'Ovo is used as conference center and exhibition venue. Sections of the castle, including the Normandia and Maestra towers, are still open to the general public.