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The Scuderini Rossi Tower and Palace in Castel di Tora: A Castle Overlooking the Lake
Castel di Tora, a medieval village in the Turano Valley listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages (I Borghi più Belli d’Italia), has kept its original defensive layout intact. Perched on the north-eastern shore of Lake Turano, its castle commands an imposing view over the valley and the waters of the lake.
The tower and the palace
The Scuderini Rossi Tower and Palace is located in the heart of the medieval village. The polygonal tower dates from the 11th century, the sole surviving remnant of the original castle, flanked by a palace of simple, linear architecture that follows the fan-shaped outline of the tower itself. The complex stands on a solid, compact rocky base, visible from many points in the village, and it is the very symbol of the town. Struck by lightning in 1718 and subsequently restored, the tower retains its original structure. Inside is a 30-cubic-metre cistern that collected rainwater, and was connected to a stone fountain at the entrance to the palace.
The setting: a village between lake and mountain
Around the complex wind the stone-paved lanes of Castel di Tora, with arches, grottoes and cellars carved into the rock, all set within the Riserva Naturale Monte Navegna e Monte Cervia (Monte Navegna and Monte Cervia Nature Reserve). The village is a great base for setting out on a variety of excursions, trekking routes and kayaking trips on the lake.
