Italian Castles

The definitive series “Italian Castles” was first issued on September 22nd 1980. It was originally composed of the following 24 values:

5 lire: Mausoleum of Hadrian, also known as Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome

10 lire: Sforza Castle, Milan

20 lire: Castel del Monte, Andria, Apulia

40 lire: Castello Ursino in Catania, Sicily

50 lire: the mountaintop fortress Rocca Calascio, L’Aquila, Abruzzo

60 lire: Norman tower in San Mauro Forte, Basilicata

90 lire: “Le Castella” fortification in Isola Capo Rizzuto, Calabria

100 lire: Aragonese Castle in Ischia

120 lire: Este Castle of Ferrara, Emilia Romagna

150 lire: Miramare Castle in Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia

170 lire: Castle of Ostia, Latium

180 lire Gavone Castle in Finale Ligure, Liguria

200 lire Castle of Cerro al Volturno, Isernia, Molise

250 lire Rocca Roveresca in Mondavio, Marche

300 lire Norman-Swabian castle of Bari, Apulia

350 lire: mountaintop fortress of Mussomeli, Sicily

400 lire: Emperor’s Castle, Prato, Tuscany

450 lire: Castle of Bosa, Sardinia

500 lire: Castle of Rovereto, province of Trento

600 lire: Castle of Sirmione, Lombardy

700 lire: Castle of Ivrea, Piedmont

800 lire: Rocca Maggiore in Assisi, Umbria

900 lire: Saint Pierre Castle, Aosta, Aosta Valley

1000 lire: Castle of Montagnana, Veneto

Starting from following year, new values were issued following the frequent rate variations of 1980’s:

30 lire: Spanish Fortress of L’Aquila, Abruzzo (August 20th 1981)

70 lire: Aragonese Castle of Reggio Calabria (August 20th 1981)

80 lire: Castle of Avio, Province of Trento (August 20th 1981)

380 lire: Fortress of Vignola, Emilia Romagna (February 5th 1987)

550 lire: Castle of Rocca Sinibalda, Lazio (February 14th 1984)

650 lire: Castle of Montecchio in Castiglion Fiorentino, Tuscany (March 15th 1986)

750 lire: Fortress of Urbisaglia, Marche (September 20th 1990)

850 lire: Castle of Arechi, Campania (March 7th 1992)

1400 lire: Caldora Castle in Vasto (July 9th 1983)

The following values were re-issued with different details:
– 50 lire with “IPZS ROMA 1980” lettering, instead of “IPZS ROMA” (1990);
– 50 lire with perforation 13 1/4 x 13 1/4 instead of 14 x 13 1/4 (1983);
– 100 lire with perforation 13 1/4 x 13 1/4 instead of 14 x 13 1/4 (1983);
– 550 lire with perforation 13 1/4 x 13 1/4 instead of 14 x 13 1/4 (1984);

On February 21st 1994 four values that were previously produced with the more expensive recess printing process were re-issued with the cheaper and less detailed photo gravure printing:
– 200 lire,
– 250 lire,
– 300 lire,
– 450 lire.

Stamps were also produced in reels (1000 stamps, with vertical perforation only) for the stamp vending machines. Only some values were issued in this format:

30 lire: Castle of Santa Severa, Rome (September 22nd 1980),