Among the most charming and distinctive buildings in Rosazza, in the heart of the Cervo Valley, Rosazza Castle stands as one of the symbols of the village and of the vision that Senator Federico Rosazza had for the town. Situated along the road running alongside the Pragnetta stream, the castle was built between 1883 and 1899 to a design by the architect Giuseppe Maffei and was used as Rosazza’s summer residence.

The building blends perfectly into the village’s evocative atmosphere, where monuments, fountains and architecture seem to converse with one another through a language rich in symbols and historical references. Construction began with the building of the distinctive medieval tower and the main building, whilst the perpendicular wing was completed shortly before the senator’s death. The latter was intended to house a gallery for the works of art he had collected throughout his life.

The castle’s architecture is characterised by numerous decorative and symbolic elements that reflect the cultural and spiritual interests of its creator. The entrance to the garden is marked by an imposing arch that replicates the ancient Porta dell’Arco in Volterra, reinterpreted by Maffei with the addition of three female faces inspired by the women of the valley and decorated with five-pointed stars. These details, together with other elements scattered throughout the village, still fuel the mysterious charm of Rosazza today.

Particularly striking is the circular tower, built of small stone blocks laid in a herringbone pattern and crowned with Guelph-style battlements. Inside, a stone staircase of around a hundred steps leads to the top, from where there is a splendid view of the village and the Cervo Valley.

The castle is surrounded by a large garden that once housed statues, columns and lintels. Some of these decorations were damaged by the violent flooding of the Pragnetta stream in 1916; a few elements were subsequently recovered and moved to the municipal park.

The figure of Federico Rosazza, a leading figure of the Risorgimento, a senator of the Kingdom and a figure linked to the Masonic circles of the time, adds to the castle’s charm. The numerous symbols found in the building and in the village’s monuments have, over time, fuelled tales and interpretations that have made Rosazza known as one of the most enigmatic villages in Italy.

Even today, Rosazza Castle remains a private property and is not open to visitors, yet it continues to be one of the village’s most iconic and frequently photographed sights, a testament to the extraordinary legacy left by Federico Rosazza and the unique blend of architecture, symbolism and landscape that characterises this corner of Piedmont.