After a trip to Europe, he was inspired to design and build a medieval castle . Tickets on sale now for Napa Valley's most sensational event of the fall season - V. Sattui's Annual Harvest Ball. What a beautiful story and through it all this gorgeous castle became and will always be a legend in the Napa Valley.I love this castle and go there every chance I have!!! I started selling some of the Castle wine cheaply just to raise money. And I had my first paying customers, Peter Thomas. Still, he needed money to start the winery. Thank you for the years of adventure. I am looking forward to visiting the estate and being able to come back to my studio and do the painting of the experience. Looking down on Sterling Vineyards across the valley, the castle is going to be a tourists' dream, but it's seen as a travesty by many locals who decry the commercialization of their beautiful valley. The financial-services company notified some staff that they would soon be required to show up in an office three days a week. On January 5th, 1995, we began construction of 900 linear feet of caves. Then we would build the castle walls, towers, and all above ground structures. At least, that's what Dario Sattui did in Calistoga, California. Auguri! Dear Mr. Sattui, Dario Sattui is on Facebook. V. Sattui celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding. The 2000 Sattui Family Cabernet ($15) is light enough to pair with picnic foods. He later went on to work as a substitute teacher and as a tour guide at wineries. Our 8,000 sq ft house burned to the ground with a lightening strike. Relying on friends, relatives and students from nearby Seventh Day Adventist Pacific Union College for help, he built the winery for $60,000 and went into business in March of 1976. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. He apprentices for 3 years at various Napa wineries to gain background. The law-abiding Vittorio was forced to shut down when Prohibition went into effect, and the winery would lay dormant until 1976, when Vittorio's great-grandson, Dario, would realize his dream of resurrecting the family business in the town of St. Helena in Napa Valley. We would remark on the passion for authenticity and the struggles to fund. Great-grandson Dario Sattui is born in San Francisco. In 1975, Sattui opened the winery in St. Helena, with a small deli and picnic grounds. The V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena in the heart of the Napa Valley is a classic example of how to grow a new business on old roots. Weekday: 10:00am 5:00pm authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. in Accounting and Finance from San Jose State University in 1965 and then an M.B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, in 1969. Chronicle photo by Lacy Atkins, Seventh Day Adventist Pacific Union College, 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, 6 Cabo hotels for your spring break vacation, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Advance reservations highly recommended. The 18th Amendment, national Prohibition, becomes law on January 16th. 2023 Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit public benefit corporation. After more than 15 years of research, I was ready to build my castle in the Napa Valley. It blew my mind! But I always kept building. V. Sattui Winery is a winery and retail store located in St. Helena, in the Napa Valley region of California. Meanwhile, Russia and China blocked an effort to condemn the war. Advance reservations highly recommended. Raymond Burger. We are so inspired! discord packing lines vendeur in french masculine or feminine streptococcus spp high in stool symptoms jeremy alters berman. I went through my money- all of it. While many vintners would love to emulate those operations, they're now prohibited by county regulations. I couldnt wait to get started. Outside food and wine not permitted on property. He didn't know that UC Davis said it took a minimum of $1 million to start a winery in the '70s. Sattui's most popular wines, a fruity rose called Gamay Rouge and a sweet Riesling, are scorned by wine snobs and some Napa producers who make expensive Cabernets and Chardonnays. The winery was originally established in San Francisco in 1885 by Vittorio Sattui who had emigrated from Genoa, Italy. Young Russian technocrats with deep knowledge of the West are vaulting to the Kremlins upper echelons of power. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Brooks Painter joins V. Sattui as Director of Winemaking. Bless you and your family! Vittorio Sattui started the business in 1885 after emigrating from Genoa, Italy. He bought 131 acres in Solano County to grow Gamay grapes, and has 53 acres in cool Anderson Valley. Sattui feels their stings, too. Sattui is a complex, driven man. It was amazing and reminded me of many places in Italy that I have visited!! And the years of construction kept slowly rolling by. Awesome story! He took photos and made sketches of various buildings he would visit including medieval castles, monasteries, palaces, farmhouses and wineries. Dario Sattui In a reminder as to why many people prefer to remain anonymous in posting comments, particularly those criticizing public servants, a Napa Valley winery has become the target of an. By mid-2006, I was nearly in a panic about going bankrupt and losing my entire property. Nearly 200 containers of old, hand made materials were shipped from Europe to lend authenticity. TaxID#26-4008029. SAN FRANCISCODario Sattui, one of California's great vintners, was captivated by the power of the dancers in Shen Yun Performing Arts after attending the performance with Ms. Irina Yartseva at. I am a long time fan of Dario Sattui, his wineries, and his wines. Over the years, we employed builders from eight different countries and materials from five. Sattui, who studies medieval architecture and history as a hobby, traveled all over the world while researching the construction of his castle. I replaced Lars Nimskov, with whom I did not get along, but endured his bad temper because he understood what I wanted and was capable of doing it. Making a castle, but not making wine the most important part of the property?! Thank you for sharing your story, your architecture and your wines! Sattui comes from a family of bakers and wine . He is a significant supporter of Napa Valley Hospice, Hands Across the Valley, the Napa Valley Land Trust and the Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga. So I am asking the monitor of this site to please contact the Board of Directors of Castello di Amorosa and give them my contact information. I have been ther when I was 10 years old and then again when I was 70. Armed with his vault of medieval architectural renderings and another passionate dream, Dario purchased a 171-acre vineyard property in Calistoga in 1993 and began construction of Castello di Amorosa in 1994. I fired my housekeeper, then the gardener in an effort to save money to use in construction. This tale and journey of recreating history(not literally in a completely different geographic location is amazing!! Since then, his business has grown every year since except in 2001, when tourism virtually stopped after Sept. 11. -- V. Sattui Winery, 1111 White Lane, St. Helena; (707) 963-7774. He emigrated to California 3 years prior from a small town near Genova in northern Italy. "There's a cross section of customers coming up the road, and if other people choose to leave a void in their offerings, we'll fill it. Dario joined the Festival Napa Valley Board in 2013, and serves on the Audit Committee. Festival Napa Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We met at a freeway off ramp in Italy. My brothers and I escaped the Bell Canyon fire in Agoura, Ca. What I remember vividly is your tour with my brother and me through the cellars. Timothy Moxley, Heartbroken. Sattui Donates $1 Million to Calistoga Schools, July 2, 2020, A History of The Project Part 1, by Dario Sattui Continue reading your article witha WSJ subscription, Already a member? He started his winery in homage to his grandfather Vittorio, who arrived in San Francisco in 1885 from Liguria. dario sattui wealthmaryland lacrosse camps 2021. dario sattui wealth italian prayer for protection Calistoga, CA 94515 He says his worst nightmare came true early Monday when part of his beloved winery caught fire and was still burning. To my surprise, there wasnt. "As a small child, my first recollection was the aroma of wine emanating from the old building as soon as I entered," he says. He also had an option to purchase the property for . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The 13th-century style Italian. The original V Sattui Winery was founded in 1885 by Vittorio Sattui in San Francisco. I will never forget my first visit to Castello di Amarosa in 2017. You should be proud. As a child, Dario would play among the barrels and tanks in the underground cellars while dreaming of reviving the winery when he grew up. Grazie! Photo taken in 2003. It had been nearly 14 years without one penny back. As Vittorio lived to be 94 years old, Dario got to know him and was fascinated by his stories and photos of the old winery, above which the Sattui family continued to live even after Prohibition had shut it down. I will be there again now that Im 74 ! The first few days after opening gave me hope. Would love to hear from you. He kept this dream alive as he furthered his education, receiving a B.S. "They're solid and well made," says winemaker Jeff Hansen of Amici Cellars, "but I didn't find any blockbusters.". Armed with his vault of medieval architectural renderings and another passionate dream, Sattui purchased a 171-acre vineyard property in Calistoga in 1993 and began construction of Castello di Amorosa Winery in 1994. | ChateauxEscapesFrance.com. It has served as an iconic venue for Festival Napa Valley concerts ever since its opening. We bring in a lot of neophytes, and they're often turned off by Cabernet and Chardonnay.". [1][12] The great hall features frescoes painted by two Italian artists, who took about a year and a half to complete, and showcases a 500-year-old fireplace. I had been saving my money for years. Sattui envisioned selling a submarine sandwich and a bottle of his own wine--the perfect ambiance for a wine-country outing. View more Calistoga vacation rentals. "The first day, we sold $141 worth, mostly to friends who came by to support us," Sattui says. We shipped wines from Tuscany and wines from Castello di Amorosa as well. Sattui asked Salzner to run his winery. His great grandfather Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant, founded V. Sattui Winery in 1885 in San Francisco. Our heritage becomes more important as we age. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon (Monterey Wine Competition) & 2011 Paradiso (Critics Challenge International Wine Competition). A wrought iron dragon from the times of Napoleon hovers over the massive main door. View from the South Tower. Dario Sattui net worth is $20 Million Dario Sattui Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family . Besides being a winemaker, Dario Sattui is a winery owner and a prominent philanthropist in the Napa Valley. Sattui is planning to build a second winery in Calistoga. That inspired him to build a similar monastery-type winery on his property in Calistoga. Perhaps no vintner in Napa Valley is more controversial than Daryl Sattui. wsl dns not working; where are lexivon tools made; dario sattui wealth. Today Castello di Amorosa produces some of the best wines in the world from its Diamond Mountain District vineyards surrounding the Castello. is samuel sooleymon, a real person He spoke virtually no English which complicated things, and out of necessity I communicated in my bad Italian. It is located in the western slopes of the valley south of Calistoga. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. in the mid 1980s and bearly escaped with our lives. No government programs SBA or others are willing to loan a startup $250K so the fires keep burning and people keep dying and the precious artifacts of countless lives go up in smoke because of a lack of vision to see things a different way. He eventually got suspended from San Jose State for running illegal beer busts. Dario Sattui Net Worth Dario Sattui Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Relationships, Married, Dating, Family, Wiki Biography. The Sattui name is a well-known regal winemaking name in the Napa Valley. After 30 years witnessing your love of wine and history youve impacted many lives. Sattui also has a passion for restoring medieval buildings. This was especially the case when I approached the castle for the first time. I attempted to depict how castles evolved over time, by erecting doorways and niches and then bricking them up. The Top 5 Nutrient-rich Ingredients In Holle Baby Formula. "We do the wines no one else does," Sattui says. joe lombardi son. The Great Hall, entrance to Courtyard and North Tower under construction in 2005. His great-grandfather Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant, founded V. Sattui Winery in 1885 in San Francisco. In their first one-on-one encounter in more than a year, the secretary of state underscored U.S. support for Ukraine. These rooms were to be barrel aging cellars and our wine tasting rooms. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). There he visited medieval castles, monasteries, farmhouses and wineries, taking photographs and completing detailed sketches and renderings. When Dario Sattui was a child, he dreamed of reviving his grandfather's winery. For that reason, we have been to Italy many times, loving each visit, inspired by the beauty and romance of the architecture, food, culture, and people. Clearly, the success of V.Sattui winery built the 121,000 square foot, 12th-century style, authentic Tuscan castle winery. dario sattui wealthobins street, portadown. All right reserved. He's put the majority of it in the Napa County Land Trust to keep it natural and in agriculture, as he's done with parts of other vineyards. Carrie. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. Beneath the castle are a 2-acre (8,100m2) barrel cellar and tasting rooms where visitors can sample the wines, all sold only at the Castle or through the winery's wine club. (Photo: Pat Daniels). He died at the age of 94. As Vittorio lived to be 94 years old, Dario got to know him and was fascinated by his stories and photos of the old winery, above which the Sattui family continued to live even after Prohibition had shut it down. "I just wanted to renovate and live in my dream house," he says. CASTELLO DI AMOROSA "It will be just like old Italy," he claims. INDOOR & OUTDOOR WINE TASTINGS available with Limited Capacity. He supports Hands Across the Valley, Napa Valley Hospice, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena. I wish Mr. Sattui and all his employees nothing but success and many years sharing this treasure with those lucky enough to take the tour and enjoy the grape. Calistoga, CA 94515 Sattui's most popular wine, the fruity dark rose called 2000 Gamay Rouge ($15.25) is grapy enough to suggest Concord grape juice, without being syrupy, and the 2000 White Zinfandel ($8.95) may be . 6. The Castello di Amorosa architectural plan and line of wines were conceived later. The 91,000 square foot figure, Sattui said, represents nearly 10 times his original plan of 8,500 square feet when he first started dreaming of building the structure, a point that has caused his. There were many others, mostly from Italy, too numerous to name, who lent a hand to create the only real medieval castle in the United States. The masonry, ironwork, and woodwork were fashioned by hand using old world crafting techniques. Sattui's most popular wine, the fruity dark rose called 2000 Gamay Rouge ($15.25) is grapy enough to suggest Concord grape juice, without being syrupy, and the 2000 White Zinfandel ($8.95) may be one of the better examples of the maligned wine. In Buco il lupo to all the families who suffer from these fires. Writing the business plan he's still following after 26 years, he lived like a pauper, working part time as a winery tour guide and substitute teacher while he tried to raise $100,000. The 5-6 year project expanded from the original 8,500 to 121,000 square feet and 107 rooms, all different. [8], After graduating with an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley in 1969, Dario Sattui spent two years traveling in Europe, during which time he developed an interest in medieval architecture. The second day was even worse. I have great memories there. Enter Wells Fargo Bank from which I secured a large loan. Dario Sattui, owner of Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, California, and great-grandson of San Francisco, California pioneer vintner, Vittorio Sattui, was born in San Francisco in 1941 and raised in San Francisco and Fairfax in Marin County. The castle, which opened to the public six years ago, was built with a team that included a European vaulted-ceiling expert, stone masons and fresco artists to help ensure its historical accuracy. I am glad I read this blog before my visit to your castle with my family and friends on July 18th. Exterior of V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena. "I was afraid we were going to fail.". The business was profitable from the first year, and today produces 50,000 cases of wine annually, all sold via the DTC model. His business was gone. Through 1912, the Sattui family experiences great success and wealth. Since V. Sattui wines can only be bought at the winery or online, they're not often reviewed by national wine publications. There were problems, from containers full of materials not arriving on time to the County making us re-grout virtually all the walkways and rebuild all the stairs, as they didnt quite comply with local codes. Your wines were delicious! dario sattui wealth. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 50% off + free delivery on any order with DoorDash promo code, Wayfair promo code: 10% off any single purchase, 60% off running shoes and apparel at Nike without a promo code, Extra $5 off your order with GameStop promo code. Building materials included 8,000 tons of locally quarried stone, paving stones, terra cotta roofing tiles, and 850,000 bricks imported from Europe. He also offered a "Burgundy," as did many wineries at the time. It's estimated that sales are about $20 million a year, primarily wines sold at full price to consumers without the 50 percent discount required to sell to stores and restaurants. He already had a successful winery. dario sattui wealthrose hills holiday schedule 2020rose hills holiday schedule 2020 watt to degree fahrenheit converter; pontoon rail speaker mount; The construction took 15 years and opened to the public in 2007. Most of all, however, V. Sattui is also the only Napa County winery other than Domaine Chandon that serves food to the public, and Chandon's restaurant is a fancy, expensive operation. Georgio Mariani of Assisi in Umbria, along with his father, brother and uncle, made all lamps, iron gates and decorative iron pieces by hand over an open forge. So sad. Your perseverance is inspiring!! You will rebuild and it will be even better. The new and still-unnamed winery won't have a deli but it will offer tours. I admire the history that led to the beautiful construction of the Castello di Amoroso. His Cabernet came from Robert Mondavi, his Riesling from Peter Becker. Dario Sattui, September 18, 2006. Open 9 a. m. to 6 p.m. daily. Weeks later his saw mill was torched. So sorry for your loss. Regal 4bd/4ba Victorian Home in Downtown Calistoga +21 photos About Rooms & beds Amenities Reviews Map Host Policies Availability Know before you go Check Covid restrictions here Castello di Amorosa, Dario Sattuis 2nd winery, opens its doors in Calistoga. Dario Sattui has an affinity for medieval architecture. In an industry notorious for its turnover, more than half of all Sattui workers have been with the company more than five years, many far longer. I had no idea if the project would be well-received or not. The Nanni brothers hand-carved all the ceiling beams. If the success is apparent, the reasons for that success are controversial locally. I was really concerned we would not be able to do complex medieval ceiling vaulting ourselves and we would have to stop building or construct ceiling which were not authentic. He didn't buy a house until he was 48, and never lived in it. I was sure that with my savings coupled with current earnings I could manage financially if I were prudent in other areas. Daryl Sattui believes there's more to the experience than the wine. The problem is no one is willing to loan me the money I need to scale up and build the commercial units. This brings me to my second point- I have spent the last 15 designing, building and testing the most advanced wildfire fighting system in the world. Then please sign up for our mailing list. Incredible story. The Drawbridge is under construction. Ive lived in Sonoma County almost 30 years and celebrated my 60th Birthday there in June. He later enrolled at the College of Marin. Fritz Gruber supplied me with nearly one million handmade, antique bricks from torn-down Hapsburg palaces. Stay safe! One that uplift many from your business acumen. He attended Drake High School and then the College of Marin. The first year in business, Sattui made a profit. He attended Drake High School and then the College of Marin. Presidents Day: 10:00am 5:00pm, OPEN: BY RESERVATION In the last 10 years, V. Sattui Winery has protected over 550 acres in the Napa Valley with Conservation Easements that restrict the development of land with homes and preserves hundreds of acres of vineyards, oak woodlands and grassland open space forever. The Wright Bros,. "I loved that house and always wanted it," he says, and has restored it to serve as his current home. With the property came the Nash House, one of the oldest homes in Napa Valley, which he rents out, plus a small stone 1850 building used for storage although it may be the oldest commercial winery building in the valley. Where we couldnt find authentic handmade materials, we created them by using the same methods and materials of long ago. Sattui envisions the grounds will have olive trees and chickens running around, dogs lying in the path and signs in Italian. I didnt know about Castle di Amorosa, the vineyard, its origins or its magnificent provenance until someone sent me something regarding the horrific fire on Facebook. Dario Ruffini hand-carved the stone crests depicting my familys coat of arms. He has acquired hundreds of containers of antique building materials from Europe. It was during this period his fascination for medieval architecture began to take shape. Sattuis winery, Castello di Amorosa, is one of the most successful wineries in California. (Photo: Alison Hernandez 2017), Ramparts, towers, the guard tower and a variety of Castle defensive positions overlook the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Primitivo vineyards. They were to build the first two rooms and show us how it was done. Decades later, after attending college and living in Europe, Sattui decided to revive the family tradition. It will also surely attract hundreds of thousands of patrons when it's complete. I cannot wait to get back there again to bring home Castello di Amarosas wonderful prodotti per mi e la mia famiglia!! After that experience, I knew there had to be a better way to control wildfire. And the excavating was just starting. Dario Sattui returns from Europe determined to re-start the familys wine business. We love you for obsessing over this jewel of Napa & we love Castello di Amorosa. Just another site. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. We erected archways, a big kitchen, a Great Hall that took one and a half years to completely fresco. I pray that you will turn to Jesus and let Him lead you to a new dream and provide hope for the many who will need your leadership in these days. Though a demanding employer, however, he's retained many loyal employees for years. Vittorio & Katerina begin making wine full-time and name their winery St. Helena Wine Cellars, after the town from which he purchased his grapes. Master builder, Fritz Gruber pictured with one of his works of art in Europe. Every nail, every chain link, every hinge and lock was hand-done by the Marianis. Privacy Policy| Terms of Use |Sales and Refunds | Accessibility, A "Medieval" Tuscan Castle in Napa Valley, California? Sons Mario and Romeo join the business. Saturday, September 16th 05:30 pm - Saturday, September 16th 11:00 pm V. Sattui Winery $295 - $335 Join Dario Sattui and the rest of the V. Sattui family in celebrating V. Sattui's 37th Anniversary Harvest Ball! Boy, I was wrong on both accounts! "We couldn't beat the big guys at their game, so we took a different tack," Sattui recalls. Interested in newsletters, promotions, and wine club events? To make it, he rented everything but a pump and some hoses, buying some used barrels to store and age the wine. In 2020, winery namesake and longtime vintner, Dario Sattui, saw his prized Castello di Amorosa resembling a Tuscan castle in Calistoga sustain damage when the massive Glass Fire jumped Highway 29 . Two local fire depts. 4045 St Helena Hwy Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Rieslings capture the fruit of the grapes, with both a dry and a sweet version. The house on the property was so dilapidated his wife wouldn't move in, so they lived in their VW Microbus. Vittorio purchases the Rottanzi Winery in San Franciscos Mission district and renames it V. Sattui Wine Company. I kept declaring larger dividends than I normally would have from V. Sattui to keep afloat. He has studied castles and monasteries throughout Europe. You have created a wonderful castle that will be appreciated for its beauty, grandeur and authenticity for decades and it will last a thousand years since you built it in the original, medieval way, with great strength. Through rain, occasional snow, cold, heat, and heavy winds, we built Castello di Amorosa, working six days a week, usually ten or more hours a day. To attract visitors, employees parked their cars in the front lot and his father sat outside eating at a picnic table to give the appearance that the winery was popular. Thank you for your honest and clear description of the trials and tribulations you overcame in your single-minded quest to build an authentic 12th century Tuscan castle. Michael Horns Whats Cookin on Wine with Nicole Nielson, December, 2022 (Interview Starts at 38:00) We planted vineyards in 1994 through 1996. I have visited Castello Amorosa several times each an adventurous joy to experience & behold. What They Discovered in The Pyramids in Egypt Shocked the Whole WorldThis Is a Story Recap for A mystery Movie Called The pyramid movie recapThank you for w. is samuel sooleymon, a real person is samuel sooleymon, a real person. Rosenbrand is still his head winemaker today. Brooks Painter named Winemaker of the Year by the American Fine Wine Competition. [10] Among many other features, it includes a moat; a drawbridge, defensive towers, an interior courtyard, a torture chamber, a chapel/church, a knights' chamber, and a 72 by 30 feet (9.1m) great hall with a 22-foot (6.7m)-high coffered ceiling. (Photo: Jim Sullivan 2010). We worked over 10 years building underground, often seeing daylight only at lunchtime. He's imported artisans and stones from old buildings in Europe and found craftsmen to construct rare vaulted ceilings. As Vittorio lived to be 94 years old, Dario got to know him and was fascinated by his stories and photos of the old winery, above which the Vittorio Sattui family continued to live even after Prohibition closed the old V. Sattui Winery. We're here to help people have fun," he says. Dario Sattui is the grandson of Vittorio Sattui, a former Italian immigrant who founded V. Sattui Winery in San Francisco in 1885. So far, three cellars are complete, and are being used for wine aging, but when the castle -- replete with moats and towers -- is done in five to seven years it will be a full winery with a tasting room and extensive visitor facilities. Will you please be the very first guest on my podcast? Photo taken in 2005. The torture chamber has an iron maiden said to be from the late Renaissance,[11] which Sattui states he bought for $13,000 in Pienza, Italy; a replica rack; and other torture devices. Learn more about Darios inspiration for building Castello di Amorosa. I was bent on being totally authentic incorporating every element of a real 12th 13th century Tuscan castle.