The castle of Balestrino stands on the highest point of the inhabited upper village, a solidly built 17th-century fortified palace that replaced earlier medieval structures on the same site. It was the seat of the del Carretto marquises, who held the territory for generations, and the current building reflects their wealth and ambition — thick walls, round towers, and a commanding position over the surrounding olive groves and valleys.
The castle's exterior can be viewed freely from the lanes of the upper village, and it anchors the skyline of Balestrino from the valley below. The interior has been partially restored and is occasionally open for visits; check locally for current access. Even from the outside, the scale and quality of the stonework is impressive for a village of this size. The upper village itself — inhabited, quieter, and less visited than the ghost village below — has well-preserved Ligurian vernacular architecture and several carved stone doorways worth examining.