Castle of Grinzane Cavour
| The Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
 | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, v |
| Reference | 1390 |
| UNESCO region | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2014 (38th Session) |
The Castle of Grinzane Cavour is a fortification in Grinzane Cavour, Piedmont, northern Italy.
On 22 June 2014, the castle of Grinzane Cavour was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage list.[1]
History
Mentions of the castle's early history are extremely scarce, and its origins have been variously assigned to the 13th century or to around 1350. The castle includes a large tower, which is thought to be the most ancient part of the construction, while the rest of the body has similar features, and therefore it is likely that it was built in the same age.[2]
In the 15th century, the castle and the surrounding are were owned by the marquis of Busca, whose heraldic symbols have been found in some rooms, under later plasterings. It was later under several lords, the most famous of which was, in the mid-19th century, Camillo Benso, Conte di Cavour, who resided here starting from 1830. Cavour restored the construction and improved the vine cultivations of the area. In 1832 he became mayor of Grinzane, a position he held until 1849.
The castle currently houses an ethnological museum with original furniture items from the 19th century, and rooms dedicated to Cavour's stay and to Italian wine production.
Description
The castle has a rectangular plan and a massive appearance, with a large keep, occupying a whole wing, and a U-shaped structure with a series of turrets: two square and two rounded, the latter, added in the 16th century, being pensile.
There a series of rooms, one of which, called "Sala delle Maschere" ("Masques Hall"), has a ceiling decorated with 157 panels featuring coat of arms, animals and allegory images celebrating the marriage of Pietrino Falletti, who owned the castle in 1517.
In 2010 a new building was inaugurated. It houses educational rooms and a hall used for meetings.
References
External links
- Official website (Italian) (English) (German) (French)