What would a castle be without birds of prey? Introduced in the middle ages by a population from Russia, these birds were only for the priviledged of society and became an institution starting in the sixth century. 

In World War I, an underground tunnel was used as an outpost for the defensive line Cadorna.

From 1915 to 1918, this was used to stop the Germans from invading Menaggio. The view from one of the pill boxes where machine guns were loaded. The views from the three pill boxes would allow the Italians to shoot at unsuspecting ships on their way to Menaggio across the lake. These are very damp and very dark and very narrow. Not the job I would like to have signed up for.

Another pill box in another outcropping. They were chiseled out of solid stone.

I don't think many of these, girls, were found in the tunnel during WWI.

Finally out.

Our ode to Arizona; I had to take a picture of the potted cacti. There are catci growing all along the edge of the castle wall, more of the mild weather plants.

During the middle ages, the castle was a good place for the people of Veranna to hideaway during attempts to takeover the town. The castle had a fortifying system around the village. Remnants of the wall can be seen on your entry and exit to the castle grounds.

Why don't our water fountains look like this?