This place may have been ok in 2005 when the only other eview was left, but it's certainly gone downhill since then. The website shows nothing of the run down gardens and rusty sun loungers and tables. We arrived (4 of us) on a Monday night at the end of June travelling through Italy. We were the only guests in the hotel and there was only one member of staff on the premises, a young Italian girl who spoke very little English. We arrived thirsty and hungry, but there were no food available in the hotel, only drinks despite there being a 'restaurant' on site. we found also that the 'restaurant' was closed that night??? and since we were actually miles from anywhere on the top of a hill it was no small feat to find something to eat. in the end the young lady found us some crisps and nibbles to have with our drinks.
Now to the rooms..... you would have thought that being the only guests they would have given us the best rooms? well maybe they did but they were awfull. Our friends were put in a room in the attic with no aircon and only one small window - it was 37 degrees with 100% humidity. They asked for a move to an air conditioned room and were told there was a fan in the room and she would show them how to use it. They insisted on moving and after a phone call to the (absent) proprietor, they were moved to a 'junior suite'. What a laugh! there was an entrance room with a chair, a small bedroom and a bigger bathroom - they actually had a shower in this one. But no air con - they were given 2 fans instead. The room smelled awful too - very musty. Still not happy they were told there were no other rooms available??? excuse me but we WERE the only ones there!
The room my husband and I were given was a little better at first sight - up several flights of stairs which was difficult in the heat, but we did have an aircon unit. This wasn't really big enough for the room and the heat but it was better than a fan! We had no shower in our bathroom only a whirlpool bath with a hand held shower head. Now for the really bad news. i decided to have a bath to cool down - started to run the water and climbed into the bath while it filled up. Something looking like a piece of twig floated in the water which i picked up - and it WRIGGLED!!! it was a black worm of some description, at which point i noticed one on the wall, and when I leapt out of the bath there were several on the floor wriggling back under the bath. UGGHHH!!! However - this was an old place so i guess there must be a few creepie things around, and I assumed it was the damp in the bathroom. Things got worse..... we went out that night to a local restaurant (about 15 mins drive) and when we got back to our room at about 11 pm these worms were everywhere!!! on the floor, on the walls in the bedroom, in the bathroom. At first my husband picked them up with tissues and put them in the loo, but there were so many in the end he splatted them wherever they were - we needed someone to see how many - the whole room was infested. Needless to say we hardly slept a wink - we couldn't wait for morning to get out. The next morning there was the biggest spider in the bath I have ever seen, my husband could not get it down the plughole it was so big and to finish the experience off - we had a call from the young girl on reception to say there was a 'problem with the breakfast room' and could they serve us breakfast in our room. A tray arrived with coffee (no milk) 3 rolls, no butter, some jam and salami and a packet of 'french toast'. they obviously couldn't be bothered to open the breakfast room for us. We paid our bill (not cheap at 170 Euros!!)and left, we couldn't even be bothered to argue about our experience to try and get a reduction, we just wanted to get away. As i said DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. it's worse than faulty towers - they know nothing about customer service or satisfaction

This castle on a hilltop near Ivrea is peaceful and full of history dating to the Romans (and including Napoleon's troops as well as Hollywood movie stars of the early 1900's).

The castle has been renovated in a very tasteful way, preserving glimpses into history while offering completely modern accomodations at excellent, unbelievable values.

The bathrooms are gorgeous and many offer jacuzzi tubs.
The linens are beautiful, the views are beautiful.
The decor is tasteful, modern and antique all at once.

Some of the rooms have yet to be as updated as others. Ask for a superior room.

Some of the ceilings date to the 13th and 17th centuries - some painted, many vaulted.

The staff is lovely and extremely accomodating.
The restaurant is very good.

The location is about 10 minutes from Ivrea, where nightclubs and restaurants abound. We chose to stay in most nights, dining at the castle's restaurant.