Hello dear friends
In today's post, I wanted to change what I bring here, the main topic remains art, but this time I did not want to talk about the classic Tuscan village, but I wanted to bring something really special, which I have seen several times as an art lover, but each time it has always struck me in a particular way because in my opinion it is a very impressive place, and certainly the person who built it was a very eclectic and strange person.
But I am talking about the famous Rocchetta Mattei a castle that was built around 1800 in about 20 years, built by Count Cesare Mattei, a very strange and peculiar person in fact he managed to create a very special environment and certainly a place to visit at least once in your life, for those who come from the Bologna area.
In fact, the man who built it was a famous doctor and alchemist, as well as a scientist of the time, and the castle features a mixture of architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Moorish. Unfortunately, only part of the castle can be visited today because most of the rooms are closed to the public, precisely because they are in need of major restoration.
This is a very special place due to the fact that its owner was a special person where he appreciated the frescos of very original decorations that were extraneous as well as the strange machines that were found inside that Count Mattei used for his research on bed therapy and alternative medicine.
Today, Rocchetta Mattei is a popular tourist attraction and important for the region, but we must also say that the castle is surrounded by a beautiful natural park where it is possible to go for walks and enjoy the beautiful landscape. In fact, inside the park there is also an Arboretum with some very special species of plants and trees, including some rare and exotic species that were brought here by the Count during his travels.
The strange and peculiar thing that struck me and all my friends who I recommended this place to, is precisely the mix of styles and fusion of styles ranging from Arab to medieval but also with important Art Nouveau influences, and this is precisely why in my opinion this place is unique not only in Italy but also in the world.
This place being linked to this very special person, to this enigmatic and controversial character of his time, it is said that inside this castle there are many ghosts precisely because here the count had set up his small clinic for alternative medicine and also inside this castle over time people died who were guests including many artists and intellectuals of the time.
So some claim that on certain full moon nights ghosts can be seen inside this castle, but in any case there is no proof of this existence there are only these beautiful legends, which are often found in castles or abandoned places.
Rocchetta Mattei has also been used as a film location in several movies and TV series precisely because of its mysterious and evocative atmosphere and unfortunately it was also severely damaged by the 2012 earthquake that struck Emilia Romagna, but fortunately in 2015 it was restored and it is now possible to visit the castle through guided tours that allow you to discover the history and beauty of this enchanting place.
I forgot to tell you, that in order to access this castle you have to book tickets on the website, which cost €10, and among other things, this cost includes a guided tour, so you have the opportunity to understand the life of the owner but also the history of this castle, and this if I am not mistaken lasts about an hour.
Certainly if you like particular and strange things, you cannot miss this place, and by the way, as I said at the beginning, it is located in a beautiful place in the middle of the green hills of the Apennines, so you can also enjoy a beautiful landscape and if you have time you can take a beautiful hike in the many nature trails that are near Rocchetta Mattei.
Thank you for reading the post to the end I hope I have helped you discover this very special place I hope you have the chance to see it live, because my story does not do justice to this place, which every time I visit it creates a mix of emotions in me.
I wish you all a good day!