Mazzè and surroundings - castles
On the A4 Turin-Milan at the third exit (30 km away from Turin city), take the exit for Rondissone, others 7 / 8 miles and I find myself in the medieval village and very characteristic of Mazza. And 'well-marked and typical castle of the famous noble family moved into a noble family until now.
Parking in front of the castle and there is an atmosphere of Lancelot and Guinevere, a castle big enough (but not a palace) is perched on the hill. We are in the area of Canavese and Mazza is in the province of Turin. The town is very historic and artistic, churches, homes, castles and ancient lanes, is very suggestive.
The castle as well as being visited by organized tours with a guide is also home to special meals for weddings and special occasions just in the halls of the castle (very beautiful) e. .. visit the museum of torture (in collaboration with Amnesty International), the forest park (approximately 1.5 hours of walking) and the inside of the castle, they cost 10 euros.
A nice girl at the entrance welcomes tourists and makes bilgietti, I immediately visited the museum of torture instruments used in the past in Germany, France, Spain, etc. ..... The museum is placed in a crypt dark and rocky, with millions of cobwebs to keep the atmosphere very "suspense", an early music and singing accompanies you for the journey to visit the museum. They are cells, torture equipment, tanks, and everything 'you would not want to see. Everything has an explanation in writing and before the visit takes half an hour at most. It 'exciting and evocative, if not have to like is terrifying, everything is well explained in the captions written and the lighting is weak and is very "ambient ".....
At noon we leave for the tour with a group of Bergamo (intrusive and rude), the guide explains the history of the castle from room to room as we walk, the families who inhabited the castle, because 'all things present and absent from the castle. There are 2 small castles, but what is the current home of the owner (of both) and therefore is visited only the big one that is very nice and visit in 40 minutes. Sale picturesque and very beautiful rooms are continuing at a more 'smaller and less interesting. Two rooms are fitted out for the wedding dinner that land 'from them a couple of hours and then we can not touch anything and we can stop most' from time to cinemas. Mirrors, fireplaces, tables, thrones and carpets .... kidnaps all the attention.
From a tower through a steep spiral staircase leads to the entry of the castle, from here we enter the first and bare room that is connected with the others. The Hall of Battles, the game room, the dining room, the bedroom, the dressing room and bathroom .... Some furniture is typical of the era and some are just for decoration. Armor, Bohemian crystal chandeliers, typical Venetian flooring and weapons of the time, is a beautiful medieval atmosphere.
The castle is located adjacent to Dora, who has a gray-blue, from the view is beautiful and there is also the sun despite the beginning of October. In front of the castle is a small garden (where there are appetizers for wedding receptions), raised as a balcony over the River Dora, the landscape is beautiful here, 'even a well, a few palm trees, hedges, landscaping, benches and ivy creeper.
After eating the fly I return to visit the missing piece or the "Forest Park", the park of the castle which has an established route is fairly easy to tackle deep in the wilderness. Takes about 1.5 hours and runs down the dock on Dora (breathtaking view) and back to the castle through trees, bushes and green meadows.
The park has mature trees and new plantings, a bamboo grove 'and in aesthetics is dotted with colorful flowers. Some remains in a plain, an old ruined church, a block of houses destroyed and nearly flat areas and green. A lake has now disappeared, the trail is visible but at times quite salt, in some points there are views and views over the River Dora very beautiful.
The castle is the castle of Mazzo di Masino, pultroppo visited only by appointment, so do some photo shoot outside. Then we visit briefly a lake (Lago di Candia) in the surroundings.
I encourage all those who like to visit historical sites and castles to spend a Sunday to deck, interesting and enjoyable place.
Adjacent to the castle is a restaurant but in the case of wedding receptions can not 'go to eat.
The visit was very interesting, driving perhaps a little 'inexperienced did not know how to keep in check the unruly group of Bergamo touching everything and chatted on their own .... but it's still a good experience.