Castello di Spessa

Perched on the top of a gentle hill, Castello di Spessa stands as an elegant landmark in the heart of friulian Collio. Its origins date back to the 13th Century, but several records hint to the passage of the Romans since as back as the 3rd Century a.d. For centuries, the manor house has been the residence of the friulian aristocracy: for example Dorinbergo, Rassauer and Della Torre Valsàssina (this family was descendant of Charlemagne and owned the castle for more than 300 years).

Over the centuries, illustrious people stayed here: Lorenzo Da Ponte – who was Mozart’s librettist –, the Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Aosta, and in 1773 Giacomo Casanova, the celebrated writer and adventurer, whom a prize is dedicated to.

Finally, in 1987, the Castle and the surrounding vineyards were acquired by Pali family, who gave new life to the site and developed a complex named Castello di Spessa Resort.