Castle of Gizzi (Castello dei Marchesi Mazara)

Torre de' Passeri, Italy, Italy

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Castello dei Gizzi, also known as Castello dei Marchesi Mazara, is an elegant fortified palace in Torre de’ Passeri, in Italy’s Abruzzo region.

Built in 1719 by Marquise Smeralda Mazara on the remains of an older defensive tower linked to the Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria, it combines noble residential architecture with traces of its medieval past. The castle complex includes the main palace, auxiliary buildings, a historic wine cellar, and a large park.

Architectural highlights include a grand stone entrance, the Mazara family coat of arms, medieval arches, and archaeological remains such as an ancient sarcophagus and Roman-era columns. Since the late 20th century, the castle has become an important cultural center, housing the Casa di Dante in Abruzzo, a museum, and a library dedicated to the study and promotion of Dante Alighieri’s work.