From Romeo and Juliet to the Twilight Saga, there’s nothing more romantic than Italy’s medieval villages. But what about buying a home here? We look at the pros, a few cons, and where to start your medieval property search.

Village castles, and the local folk tales that surround them, create a mystical atmosphere, that casts a spell on visitors to Italy’s medieval villages. These strong fortifications have watched over towns, villages and farms for centuries and have fascinating histories. In the old stone streets and alleyways, you can often find “Palazzo” houses once owned by noble families and stone houses that have stood strong for hundreds of years.

Being part of a community that celebrates historical events and honours local traditions is appealing to home buyers who long for a lifestyle reminiscent of times gone by.

The question is do you want to live in one of Italy’s medieval villages or in a countryside home with a view of the castle? Here we look at the pros and cons of life in a medieval village and some examples of villages near castles, that have property for sale in the area.

Living in a medieval castle village – the pros and cons

• Great places to visit – Many people are fascinated by castles and fortified towns. They are a great place to take family and friends to, when they visit you at your Italian home. However, occasionally it can be difficult to find parking close by and not all castles are open to the public.
• Rental potential – As Italian castles attract tourists, your property could also earn you money by offering holiday rentals. Although the most popular villages can get very crowded during the holiday season, the rest of the year you can enjoy strolling through quiet historic streets.
• Fantastic views – Many Italian castles are located on hill tops with incredible views of the surrounding countryside. Some village houses, and restaurants will also have these spectacular views. There may even be a defensive wall you can take walks around. However, if you buy a house in a hill top town with steep narrow streets you will have to consider how you will get furniture up to the property. But, there are some fantastic removals companies that are well used to this.
• History – A lot of interesting history surrounds castles. Walking around the stone streets is like stepping back in time. It can be fascinating to hear stories of its past.
• Traditional events – Along with the history there may be stories that are re-enacted at annual events. These can attract thousands of visitors over just one weekend.
• Photogenic – Medieval villages with castles offer numerous photo opportunities. They also attract artists and crafts people.

Discover four of Italy’s medieval villages that have castles 

Volterra’s Medici Fortress

Volterra is a walled town which dates back to before the Romans. After visiting Volterra’s dark narrow streets, writer Stephanie Meyer was inspired to use it as the setting of the fictional vampire coven in her Twilight book series.

Although there aren’t really handsome vampires in Volterra the village has many other attractions

Although there aren’t really handsome vampires in Volterra the village does have many other attractions that may appeal to house buyers and tourists.

Rooms with views in Volterra, Tuscany, Italy.

Volterra Highlights

• The Medici fortress – This castle is a masterpiece of military architecture, set in a green park. It is a combination of an old fortress completed in 1342 and a newer one completed in 1474, with strong walls to discourage rebellion. While it can be seen on the hillside, it isn’t currently possible to visit the inside.
• Palazzo dei Priori, the oldest town hall in Tuscany located in the heart of the town’s main piazza.
• Stone streets with Roman, Etruscan and medieval buildings. Including an Etruscan acropolis and a Roman theatre, which hosts the “Festival Internationale Volterra Teatro Romano”.
• A superb collection of Etruscan artifacts at the Guarnacci Etruscan museum.
• Art and craftwork, particularly carved alabaster.
• A calendar of events that includes a medieval festival, which sees the town transported back to 1398. You will see ladies and knights, nobles and peasants, musicians and jugglers dressed up for an occasion full of music, food and dancing.
• All the facilities you might need, such as restaurants, supermarkets and a hospital.

Population: 9,500.

Nearest airport: Pisa Airport is one hours’ drive away.

Volterra property for sale

You can find apartments in Volterra for less than €100,000 and two-bedroom town houses from €115,000. In the countryside you can find farm houses for sale and also farm buildings that have been split into apartments.

Your Overseas Home has a selection of properties for sale in the Volterra area of Tuscany 

Monteriggioni, The Stone Crown of Tuscany

Monteriggioni (see cover image) is an Italian medieval village encircled by 13th century castle walls and fourteen towers. This gives it the appearance of a crown on top of a hill. Built by the Sienese between 1213 and 1219, it still shows the marks of having had a portcullis and ditches where fires were lit to ward off attacks. It was even mentioned in Dante’s Inferno Canto XXXI, where he compares the town’s circular wall crowned with towers to giants at the rim of the abyss. It is also thought to have inspired the Assassin’s Creed video game.

Monteriggioni highlights

• It’s a quintessential Italian medieval village, with historic streets and stone walls.
• The community are highly dedicated to preserving and promoting the local heritage.
• In early July, a medieval festival is held in Monteriggioni involving historical parades, medieval banquet, crafts, falconry, jousting and battle re-enactments.
• Close to the Florence to Siena autostrada it is conveniently located for day trips to Siena (27 minutes drive) and Florence (56 minutes).Siena hospital is only 17 minutes drive.
• Surrounded by beautiful countryside with olive groves and vineyards.

Population: 10,000

Nearest airport: 54 minutes drive to Florence Airport or 90 minutes to Pisa Airport.

Property for sale in Monteriggioni

A two-bedroom apartment within the fortified walls can cost around €270,000. Smaller farmhouses in the area cost around €780,000. Your Overseas Home features many property listings in the Siena province.

Poppi – The mystical village

Located in a beautiful valley in the heart of Casertino, Poppi is full of authentic historic character, surrounded by peaceful scenery. House buyers can enjoy the perfect combination of nature, history, and culture in a small friendly community. The old town is on the sides of the hill and there is a newer part in the valley below.

Castello dei Conti Guidi

The medieval village is dominated by Castello dei Conti Guidi. Designed by the Di Cambio family of architects, it was the “prototype” of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio. The castle was built in the 13th century and features a tall central tower, surrounded by walls with battlements and a wide moat.

Poppi Highlights

• Castello dei Conti Guidi is open year round and houses a library, an exhibition of the Battle of Campaldino and a chapel with frescoes of Gospel stories. Exhibitions, shows and cultural events are also held here.
• Poppi is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy (Borghi più Belli d’Italia)  
• Located within the protected area of the Casentino Forest National Park
• Near places of spirituality: Camaldoli, with its Hermitage and Monastery, and the Sanctuary of La Verna, where St. Francis received the stigmata.
• Events in the area include Seasonal Fairs with organic produce, crafts and antiques. There are is also a summer music and art festival and the Festival for the towns patron saint on the second Sunday after easter.
• Opportunity to visit the Romena Castle in Pratovecchio. Whose three towers dominate the Casentino valley.
• The village has small shops, cafes, restaurants and a weekly market on Saturday mornings selling fresh produce.

Arezzo town is 45 minutes drive and there is a train station in Poppi.

Population: 6,500.

Nearest Airport: 60–90 minutes’ drive from Florence Airport.

Property for sale around Poppi

Two-bedroom apartments start at €150,000, while two-bedroom countryside houses cost from €280,000, with larger farmhouses into six figures. Your Overseas Home presents several large farmhouses on large plots of land in the Arezzo province.

Erice, Sicily

Located on top of Mount Erice in Western Sicily, this village was an important religious and military stronghold for the Carthaginians and Romans. Its natural vantage point, 750 metres above sea level, offered strategic control over the Strait of Sicily and the western coastline. To this day, it has kept its medieval layout and architecture and boasts a huge castle.

The castle above the medieval village of Erice, Sicily

Mythological connection

Old traditions and stories of times gone by charm everyone who spends time here. You can sense the history of the place as you wander around the streets and piazzas. The poet Virgil, mentions Erice in “Aeneid”, as a stop on the mythological journey of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome. The epic work highlights Erice’s prominent position and its connection to ancient mythology.

Indeed, the city of Erice is named after the mythological hero Eryx, who was the son of the goddess Aphrodite (Venus). There are many stories connected to Erice, involving Greek mythology and the ancient temple of Venus.

The Venus Castle

This 12th century Norman fortress, stands on an isolated cliff south-east of the peak of Mount Erice. It takes it’s name the Goddess Venus as it was built on the ruins of the ancient temple of Venus Ericina.

After a period of neglect and falling into ruin, Count Agostino Pepoli reclaimed the whole area at his own expense, reconstructing the towers, and adding an English style garden. You can now visit the Castle of Venus throughout the year.

Erice Highlights

• Erice is one of the most beautiful Italian medieval villages with noble palazzo houses, magnificent churches and amazing panoramic views.
• The Pepoli Tower is perched on the side of a rocky slope below the castle.
• It boasts amazing views of the Tyrrhenian coast of the Gulf of Trapani
• You can travel up to Erice from Trapani by cable car in about 10 minutes. Drive time from the centre of Trapani is 25 minutes.
• Interesting shops selling crafts, ceramics, rugs and traditional almond pastries.
• From June to September Erice hosts concerts, shows, art and cultural events.
• Local residents are getting involved in transforming Erice into a summer destination for those seeking authentic and engaging experiences. They offer a warm welcome to newcomers.
• The area has a lot of potential for attracting tourists and house buyers. Currently, prices are low, especially for those properties needing renovation or modernisation. Therefore, once more houses are done up, the village should increase in popularity with buyers and values should increase.

Population: 26,000.

Nearest Airport to Erice: 37 minutes drive from Trapani–Birgi Airport (Trapani–Vincenzo Florio); Palermo Airport is 1 hr 11 minutes.

Properties for sale in Erice

Apartments in this Italian medieval village start at around €29,000, but will need some work. Two-bedroom houses cost around €160,000. You can see a selection of properties for sale in the Trapani area on Your Overseas Home.

Your own castle in Tuscany? (Click for more details)

If you’re dreaming of buying a castle in Italy, but don’t have the €9 million to buy this one in Tuscany, don’t despair. You can still find affordable stone houses and noble residencies in medieval villages. Many of these stone properties can be decorated to feel just like a castle inside.

Find your Borgo

In Italy, a village from the Middle Ages to the renaissance is called a Borgo. They are unique in that they grew up around castles or palaces owned by noble families. There are at least 270 Borghi dotted across Italy. Here we looked at four examples, but you can find many more on  “I Borghi più belli d’Italia”. 

The wonderful thing about living in one of Italy’s medieval villages is being surrounded by history. Village communities often celebrate their local traditions, and create an atmosphere of life in a bygone age.

When you have a home here, you will be able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from the local market, and get to know your neighbours and the people in the local shops. You could even learn a local craft or get involved in medieval events. Whether you live in the village or surrounding countryside, your Italian home will be your castle, a haven away from modern life.