The Rocchetta Mattei Castle
The Rocchetta Mattei Castle
The Rocchetta Mattei is a castle situated on the northern part of the Tosco-Emiliano Apennines, in the province of Bologna. Heading toward Suviana and Brasimone lakes, along Porretana road, it will show up suddenly in all its splendor. The eccentric and striking fortress was commissioned in 1850 by the earl Cesare Mattei and was built on the ruins of an ancient manor house that included a church and a cemetery dating back to 13th century BC and located, to be more precise, in Savignano suburb, part of Grizzana Morandi municipality.
The magnificent castle is nestled on an upland at 4017 meters above sea level and after two years of restoration work opens to the public; from August 9 2015 indeed it can be visited every Saturday and Sunday.
The Earl Mattei used to live a proper medieval castellan life in the citadel with a real court and a jester; the castle hosted also many illustrious persons and was known by eminent personalities such as the russian writer Dostoevsky, that mentioned the earl in a novel, talking about his skills in “electro-homeopathy”, a practice ideated by Mattei itself. During his life the earl has changed the structure several times, making it a labyrinthine twist of many rooms towers and stairs. But in 1959 the Rocchetta was bought by Primo Stefanelli who turned part of the minor buildings in a cozy hotel with an access to the close park, a real oasis of peace. He wanted to make the place a real touristic destination, but after his death the situation deteriorated until the Rocchetta was closed definitively to the public.
In 2006 it has been purchased by Carisbo bank of Bologna that gave the green light to renovation works and announced the open of the last August 9 2015. The Castle is characterized by different styles: the main is the moorish one enriched by Italian medieval and modern architecture. The buildings that form the castle indeed, are located on a medieval complex where you will find remarkable interiors and original and peculiar elements as a lift bridge, defensive towers, gorgeous loggias and courtyards spaced out by stretches of nude rock and cliff.
