When visiting Italy, it is very easy to simply visit the big staple cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, with lots of people and big arrows basically saying “tourists go here,” but through limiting oneself to big cities, people often lose the full experience and identity of Italy as a whole. Having traveled outside the big cities recently, I highly recommend a beautiful small town tucked up into the mountains called Poppi. This small town has an amazing charm that instantly greets you as you walk into the quaint community and is surrounded by amazing scenery that overlooks the vast countryside. Take it in, but do not let the small appearance fool you, as there is many amazing sites to see. Among the places I saw there,  the most amazing sites were the remains of tall castles that once held many people and participated in movie-like battles over territory and social or political issues. Located about 20 minutes outside of town, lies one of the less preserved castles called Castello Di Romena, that sits on top of a hill and has a well preserved drawbridge that tourists are able to walk over. This castle also contains a prison tower where the prisoners with the most severe crimes would sit in the lower portions. Interestingly, it is also suggested that Dante Alighieri got inspiration from this specific castle. Located within the town of Poppi lies another castle that is referred to as Castello dei Conti Guidi, which is one of the most well preserved castles that was built in the 12th century. Amongst the amazing frescoes and other details, by far one of the most fascinating places within the castle is the library. The library in Castello dei Conti Guidi contains a collection of 25,000 books that date all the way back to the 12th century. Adding to the appeal, the library often features book exhibitions focused on a specific themes or people. I was lucky enough to experience the Dante exhibition featuring editions of the  Divine Comedies, dating all the way back to the 14th century. Although small, Poppi is not a town that should not be glazed over and it is truly amazing to take in. My advice to those considering this charming destination is to be prepared to go back a few decades and experience what it truly means to live in a castle.