Castle / Palace in Piedmont
14 guests · 7 bedrooms · 3 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area
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About this castle / palace rental
Ninth-century castle exclusively for guests and beautifully restored, with central heating and modern amenities. Rebuilt during the early twentieth century by General Cavaliere Fernando Pecco and the Broglio family, it was bought in 1929 by the family of the famous composer and musician Rosario Scalero as a home and school where he taught many of the greatest composers and musicians in the next generation, including Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Nino Rota, and Gian Carlo Menotti. Just to the left of the beautiful entrance hall, which is decorated with a famous wraparound fresco of the castle's history, are the master's study and his pupils' conservatory, which, like the library on the floor above and the central living-room right next to it, are covered in rich, dark, original paneling, replicas of medieval windows and shutters, and geometric and vegetal frescoes on every ceiling and many of the walls. From the porch of the library and from the patio on which the master's study opens, you are just above the castle's carefully manicured gardens, which are sprinkled with semi-tropical palm and fruit trees, yet offer breathtaking views of Alpine mountains capped with snow in winter, and which lead to excellent hiking trails along the Via Francigena. As sheep bells softly ring in the distance, you can walk the same trails as pilgrims passing from Canterbury to Rome amid olive groves, vineyards, and buildings that often date back to the route's heyday in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Or you can enjoy conversation, board games, your favorite beverage, and/or a snack in a quiet niche of the gardens as you look upon the beautiful and friendly confines of Montestrutto village at the foot of the castle's hill, admire the intrepid scalers at the wall-climbing park on one of the hill's lower sides, or look across Dora Baltea River at the waterfalls on the opposite mountainside. With easy access to the best of Alpine skiing, the largest and most popular of Italy's many national parks, and countless ancient ruins, medieval castles, and churches of all periods, the fantasy is yours for the making in this medieval castle updated with wifi and the other necessities of modern life.
Amenities at Romantic Italian Castle at the Foot of the Alps, CIR code 00126600003
Non-smoking
No pets allowed
Family friendly
Map of Piedmont
Ratings and reviews
8 / 10Excellent·Dec 2024
The week spent at the castle was a fantastic family holiday . It was lovely to cook in the well equipped kitchen and enjoy meals together.There is so much room to spread out if you would rather some alone time .The host Karl very kindly put up a Christmas tree which was very special.The local township is beautiful and only 1 hour drive and you are surrounded by beautiful snow covered mountains and ski resorts.Car parking is below castle and the walk up is a good 15 minutes of steep uneven ground.I managed with a bad knee , but could be difficult if you had mobility issues.Overall this was a character filled holiday which will leave us with lasting memories!
10 / 10Outstanding·Nov 2024
Staying in a true stone castle, with a tower, wrought iron door hardware, frescoes, and excellent accommodations was amazing enough, but to share the spaces with the ghosts of Rosario Scalero's esteemed students of music and walk the trails of the pilgrims from Canterbury to Rome conjured up a special magic for our group of 8 music, food, and wine-loving Midwesterners. Karl was an excellent host with his local team of Moreno and Giulia, helping us discover the wonders of the region and the friendly village at the castle's base. The one item that should noted for other castle-lodgers that was not apparent to us in the listing is the difficulty of hauling luggage by hand up and down the steep winding and stony path or several hundred stairs - ultimately worthwhile for most of our group, but very limiting to one or two members with mobility issues. Those with adequate fitness can plan ahead for packing mainly essentials, but those for whom rigorous daily climbs would be challenging should think twice. Nevertheless, the majority of our group would enthusiastically hope to return some day, definitely worthy of the effort!
10 / 10Outstanding·Oct 2024
We have been to Italy many times, but have never spent our holidays in such impressive accommodation. Equipped with lots of tips and information from our host Karl, we spent wonderful days at the castle with nine family members on the occasion of my sister's 50th birthday. A unique experience that we, Judith from Germany, will remember for a long time
10 / 10Outstanding·Jul 2024
We (4 adults and 3 kids aged between 9-11) absolutely loved our stay in the castelo. The location and scenery were perfect. The kids loved the rock climbing next door. Town restaurants were lively with fresh and tastey options. We can't wait to return!
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Top rated by guests
10Outstanding
(7 Ratings)
"Staying in a true stone castle, with a tower, wrought iron door hardware, frescoes, and excellent accommodations was amazing enough, but to share the spaces with the ghosts of Rosario Scalero's esteem..."
Gregory L.Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
