Sammezzano Castle - The Most Beautiful Castle In Tuscany?

Some buildings are so incredibly beautiful and fantastical that they don't seem to be real and Sammezzano Castle definitely fits into that category. The castle, known for its outlandish moorish inspired architecture, is a bit of a hidden gem located in Tuscany in Reggello, just a twenty minute journey from Florence. The reason it is a lesser-known architectural treasure is that it is not normally open to the public and its future is rather uncertain. Despite being abandoned for decades, however, it remains a stunning testament to the wonders that sometimes arose from the eccentricity and quirky personalities of nobles.

The gardens can still be visited, the outside admired and you can sometimes see the interior but there is a rather long waiting list. Still, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and want to get out of the city, it is worth popping out to the castle, even if you can only gawk at the impressive (but slightly less jaw-droppingly beautiful) facade.

While the famous moorish appearance of the building has led to its fame, it is not the original style in which the castle was expressed.

The estate on which the castle is built was mentioned in sources by the Romans and appears to have been known by Charlemagne. In the Middles Ages and Renaissance, it was held by families such as the Medici and was eventually inherited by Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes Aragona, a Florentine nobleman tied to the Spanish royal family.

It was this man, in the nineteenth century, who transformed the castle into the masterpiece that we see today. He was a typically learned nobleman of the time and interested in eastern cultures. It was because of this that he decided to turn the castle into a fascinating example of moorish inspired architecture.

The interiors are, hands down, the most beautiful part of the building with rooms both vast and small filled with smooth marble, muli-coloured tiles, stained glass, intricate carvings and stunning embellishments. If you visit and don't manage to get inside, however, you can check out what it looks like through Italian singer Dolcenera's music video for “Ora O Mai Più”. The grounds themselves are also a real treat. Panciatichi Ximenes Aragona was a keen botanist and planted the vast park (one of the largest in Tuscany) with exotic trees and flora. Half of the species did not survive into the 20th century but efforts in recent years have brought the park back to some of its former glory. It is also known as a “historical park” and is dotted by architectural landmarks, including an artificial grotto and a bridge, in moorish style just like the castle.

A hotel until the nineties, the castle has changed hands many times and is currently looking for a new owner though many are campaigning for it to be preserved as a national monument. As its future is uncertain, it is a must-see on your next trip to Italy!