Canon EOS 250D | 102mm | 1/100s | f/16 | ISO 200 Perched atop a menacing cliff overlooking the ancient town of Arnad below is the 'Castello Superiore di Arnad' ('Upper Castle of Arnad') — one of the oldest castles in the Aosta Valley. The castle is said to have been built by the noble De Arnado family around the 13th century before becoming the residence of the Vallaise family in the 14th century. Owing to its high altitude, the castle played a significant role in controlling the ancient Via Francigena – the historic route from northern Europe leading to Rome, the 'Eternal City' – as well as the valley hills linking up to Gressoney. The use and splendor of the old fortress came to an end when it left abandoned by the Vallaise family in the 15th century. Interestingly, two centuries later, the same family built a three-storey castle flanked by two quadrangular towers in the lower part of Arnad, which was then known as 'Castello Inferiore della Costa' but goes by the name of 'Castello Vallaise'. Meanwhile, the Upper Castle of Arnad remains privately owned, though uninhabitable and empty. And despite having suffered irreparable damage, it's nonetheless broodingly majestic. It certainly caught my photographic eye as I was walking back from Issogne Castle! ________________________________________ #lovevda #arnad #aostavalley #italia #italy #ilikeitaly #treasureitaly #bestintravel #adventuretravel #ourplanetdaily #mountainsarecalling #mountainview #mountain_world #ig_italia #ig_aosta #yallersitalia #yallersaosta #valdaosta #earthpix #awesome_shots #landscapephotography #forbestravelguide #italy_hidden_gems #traveltime #italiainunoscatto #italy_illife #raw_italy #thehub_italia #instadaily #bestpicoftheday (at Arnad) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_hTz9XoFeh/?igshid=1pzse9fe3izl