castello

Castello is the Italian word for castle or fortress. It derives from the Latin castellum, a diminutive of castrum, and has been adopted into Italian toponymy and names of fortifications. Beyond its literal meaning, Castello commonly appears in place names and in the titles of historic structures.

In Italy, Castello is best known as the name of a geographic district in Venice, one of the city’s six sestieri, located along the eastern lagoon. The term also occurs in the names of notable castles and fortresses: Castello Sforzesco in Milan, a monumental fortress; Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trento, a historic castle complex; and Castello di Rivoli near Turin, a fortress that now houses a museum of modern art. The use of Castello in toponyms often signals historical fortifications or former castle ownership.

As a surname, Castello appears in Italian and Spanish-speaking contexts and is found in historical and contemporary records. The word remains a common element in architectural, cultural, and geographic names across regions with Romance-language influence.