Montalto Dora Castle

Introduction

The Castle of Montalto Dora, also known as 'Castrum Monsalti' in historical documents, is a majestic fortress located in the municipality of Montalto Dora, Piedmont, Italy. Perched on Mount Crovero, at an altitude of 405 metres, the castle dominates the picturesque Lake Pistono, offering a panoramic view of Ivrea's Morainic Amphitheatre. Its strategic position allowed effective control of the access routes to the Aosta Valley and the historic Via Francigena.

Description

The building has an irregular quadrangular plan, surrounded by a double wall. Only a few traces remain of the outer wall, while the inner wall, some 14 metres high, extends over a perimeter of more than 150 metres. The mighty crenellated walls, consisting of 142 battlements, contain a 160-metre-long patrol walkway. The square keep, the main defensive element, is integrated into the walls on the northern side and is further reinforced by four circular corner turrets. The inner courtyard contains a low building, presumably used as a guard post, and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. The southern façade of the chapel preserves remains of 15th-century frescoes, including a Saint Christopher attributed to Giacomino da Ivrea and a Madonna suckling the Child. Inside, the single-nave room with presbytery has numerous pictorial fragments, depicting saints such as St. Margaret, St. Liberata with the infant saints Gervasius and Protasius, and St. Lucy.
The origins of the castle date back to the 10th-11th century, initially consisting of a tower, a wall and a chapel dedicated to Saints Ephisius, Mark and Eusebius. A document from 1141 mentions the castle as 'castrum montsalti', attesting to its belonging to the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Ivrea. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the structure was enlarged and modified to improve its defensive capabilities. During the siege of Ivrea in 1641, in the context of the Piedmontese civil war, the castle came under attack by French troops led by the Marquis d'Harcourt, who dismantled the interior of the building, but left the external structures intact. In the 19th century, the castle was restored under the direction of the architects Carlo Nigra and Alfredo d'Andrade, who also used it as a model and source of inspiration for the design of Turin's Borgo Medievale.
An interesting curiosity is that the castle was used as a location for the film 'Dracula 3D' by director Dario Argento in 2012. In 2024, there were rumours about American actor Johnny Depp's interest in buying the property, which was then for sale.
Currently, Montalto Dora Castle is a private property. Thanks to its excellent state of preservation, it is an ideal backdrop for events, weddings, conferences and corporate meetings. In the past, it has also been used as a film set, including for the 2006 TV series 'The Black Arrow', an Italian production inspired by the novel by Robert L. Stevenson. For detailed information on visits, times and costs, please consult the castle's official website or contact the local tourist offices.