CHAPTER ESCAPE
The Sammezzano Castle was built in the 16th century, but only during the 19th was it transformed into an incredible Moorish-style mansion. The castle consists of 365 rooms, each uniquely decorated, one for each day of the year. Its owner Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d’Aragona, a political exponent of 19th century Florence of Spanish origins, dedicated his life to this grandiose project and lived in the castle for over forty years. After his death, the castle of Sammezzano was subject to neglect and bad weather. It was looted during World War II and converted into a luxury hotel soon after the war ended. It was a hotel until 1990 when a British company bought it. Due to the financial crisis of the new owners, the castle was again abandoned.