Rocchetta Mattei - an eclectic 19th-century castle in Grizzana Morandi

Rocchetta Mattei, a castle in Grizzana Morandi, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, was begun in 1850 by Count Cesare Mattei (1809–1896) on the ruins of the medieval Rocca di Savignano. The site lay close to the historical border between the Bolognese and Pistoiese territories, in an area of strategic importance for trans-Apennine communications between central Italy and the Po plain.

Standing on a rocky spur above the Reno valley, the castle combines neo-medieval, Moorish revival, and Liberty elements in a deliberately labyrinthine layout. It served as the home of Count Cesare Mattei, a scholar and self-taught physician who founded the practice of electrohomeopathy. Inside the castle, the count led a life as a medieval castellan and even created a court, complete with a buffoon.

Today, Rocchetta Mattei is a museum and cultural venue that reopened to the public in 2015. It is one of the most visited heritage sites in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, with the foundation reporting more than 73,000 visitors per year. The castle remains a significant example of 19th-century eclectic architecture, preserved as a historical site and a museum of electrohomeopathy.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons