Castle of Rovasenda

The “Clone” Castle of Rovasenda: A Tale of Revenge, Romance, and Architectural Rebirth

Just a few hundred meters from the medieval heart of Rovasenda, a structure stands as a silent challenge to the laws of time and family. The so-called “New Castle” (Castello Nuovo) represents one of the most fascinating examples of Neo-Medieval architecture in Italy. Nestled in the quiet countryside, this brick giant tells a story of wounded pride, grand ambitions, and a love powerful enough to build monuments.

An Architectural Challenge Born from a Family Secret

The village’s official history began in 1170 when Alberto di Rovasenda built the original manor to defend the territory with massive moats and towers. However, the true legend emerged eight hundred years later when Count Luigi di Rovasenda, Prefect of the Kingdom of Italy, decided to defy his own dynasty. Luigi discovered he could not inherit the ancestral castle because of his status as an illegitimate son. This exclusion from the will transformed his grief into a monumental and creative revenge.

Supported by the immense wealth of his wife Caroline, daughter of an influential English shipowner, Luigi planned a residence that would overshadow the original. The Count commissioned the brilliant Turin architect Carlo Nigra, already famous for designing the Medieval Village for the 1884 Universal Exhibition. Between 1901 and 1904, Nigra created an extraordinary work that everyone defined as a “clone” of the ancient castle, though it featured more compact dimensions and unique stylistic details.

High-End Luxury and Early 20th-Century Innovations

Luigi designed his castle so that every detail reflected the splendor of a princely residence. The structure features a square plan with four corner towers and includes five floors above ground, plus two underground levels for icehouses and cellars. Inside, the Count blended the elegance of classicist frescoes with the most advanced technologies of the era. The New Castle of Rovasenda stunned contemporaries by introducing indoor plumbing and a sophisticated heating system—amenities almost unknown in manors of that time.

The owners lived the splendors of the Belle Époque among precious wooden floors and decorated halls, making the residence a hub of social and cultural life. Luigi and Caroline lived in the castle until their deaths in 1940 and 1944, respectively. With the end of World War II, however, the property’s fate changed drastically. The heirs did not reside permanently in the structure and began to neglect its maintenance, marking the start of a long period of decline.

From the Decay of Abandonment to a New Happy Ending

For decades, the New Castle suffered at the hands of vandals and the neglect of time. Looters stripped the rooms of every precious furnishing, while water leaks severely damaged the roof and the valuable frescoes. Although a private company purchased the building in 1984, the structure remained on the market for years without finding a brave buyer, becoming a legendary destination for Urbex enthusiasts and photographers of urban decay.