Castello di Gropparello:
a suite in a medieval tower

They say every old castle has its ghosts and secrets. At Castello di Gropparello, those whispers are as real as the stones underfoot. Perched on a steep cliff in Emilia-Romagna, this castle guards the Roman past and a Celtic altar as it watches golden-hued mornings spill over mist-shrouded ravines.

Start your evening with a romantic dinner in the Secret Garden, a candlelit hideaway by the Castle Tavern. Choose from a refined, three-course menu prepared with authentic local flavors—the perfect way to savor Italy as dusk settles over the ancient walls.

When the stars rise, step into the past on the Night Tour of the Castello. There, you’ll uncover centuries of legends and learn the story of Rosania Fulgosio, one of the castle’s most haunting ghosts. Nights here are quiet in an unusual way: the stars are bright, the dark forests press close, and the silence has just enough life—owls, wind, and the soft sound of footsteps on flagstones.

For history buffs, the castle also offers a private guided walk. Explore the noble rooms, stand atop the keep terrace at the very height of the battlements, wander through the medieval kitchens, and enter the castle’s Sancta Sanctorum—the Old Games Room, home to rare musical instruments lovingly preserved by the owners.

When the Gibelli family purchased the castle in 1993, it had been abandoned for years. Ivy clung to broken merlons, and silence filled the once-proud halls. But the owners saw a stone giant yearning to wake. They renovated the house with love as every detail was chosen to whisper history without freezing it in time.

Imagine waking up here to the creaks of ancient doors, the distant roar of a torrent 85 meters below, mist curling at the edges of windows, cold stone warmed by fireplaces, the scent of bread baking and garlic and rosemary in the kitchen air, and music from a piano more than 150 years old.

But the magic isn't only in the wilderness or the old buildings. It’s in the family: Your first coffee in the morning; the aromas of food cooking; breakfast served on a terrace with a great view. You'll feel like a guest in someone's cherished home, not a tourist in a show.

Stay a couple of nights. Let time unfold. There is only one suite in the castle: The tower of Barbigianni. You won't simply be a visitor; you'll become part of the castle's heartbeat. You’ll be welcomed like family and be let in on its stories.

Myths mingle with real history: Roman ruins are beneath your feet, and a Celtic altar is in the gorge. Foundations go back to Charlemagne and beyond.

If you want an experience that slows you down and makes you feel small yet connected to something grand, Gropparello is a rare find. In spring, the wild gardens blossom; in summer, the air smells of herbs and wood smoke; in autumn, the fog transforms everything; and in winter, the world outside the walls grows quiet, inviting warmth, conversation, and deep rest.