Unveiling the Majesty: Discover the Enchanting Charms of our 900-Year-Old Italian Castle

Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta, a 21-year-old soon-to-be 22, is an Italian individual who takes pride in being a Scorpio. Having pursued musical theater in both Los Angeles and New York, she confidently shares these essential details when meeting new people.

Then, shell add an unexpected extra detail into the mix:

"I live in a castle full time."

Growing up in a castle

Castle Sannazzaro is located in northern Italy.

Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta

At the age of four, Sannazzaro Natta took up residence in Castle Sannazzaro, a magnificent fairytale-like structure with 45 rooms and turrets.

Hailing from Italian nobility, Sannazzaro Natta's family has owned this medieval stronghold for a remarkable 28 generations. Situated in the enchanting countryside near Giarole, in northern Italy.

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Previously, Castle Sannazzaro served as a summer home for the previous generation. However, in 2006, Sannazzaro Natta's parents made the decision to relocate from Milan and turn the castle into their permanent residence. They also brought their young daughter along with them.

"When I arrived here, it felt completely ordinary," she recalls in an interview with CNN Travel today. "It simply became my home, the place where I would spend the rest of my life."

Although the castle was considered ordinary to young Sannazzaro Natta, she still reminisces about the excitement she felt upon discovering the multitude of rooms within its walls. With a total of 18 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, along with sitting rooms, a library, a ballroom, and a dining room - not to mention the presence of a moat, a chapel, and secret passageways - her parents quickly learned that hide and seek games in a castle can take quite some time.

"I used to sprint throughout the entire castle," Sannazzaro Natta fondly recalls. "There were moments when my parents couldn't locate me because I found it incredibly amusing to hide within the closets."

The interiors of the spectacular ballroom date back to the 1800s.

Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta

Having an older brother who is 14 years her senior, Sannazzaro Natta enjoyed her childhood by exploring the castle alongside her group of friends. In these remarkable surroundings, the children would spend countless hours inventing enchanting stories of princesses, witches, and wizards. Sannazzaro Natta fondly recalls how the castle provided an incredibly creative atmosphere during her formative years.

"I was raised with the likes of Harry Potter and Narnia," she reflects. "Undoubtedly, the castle provided the perfect setting to immerse myself in those enchanting atmospheres and fantasy realms - transforming it into our very own Harry Potter in my castle."

During her teenage years, Sannazzaro Natta ventured off to a boarding school in another region of Italy. This physical separation, coupled with her maturing perspective, prompted Sannazzaro Natta to harbor increasingly complex emotions towards her opulent childhood abode.

The castle is a treasure trove of family heirlooms.

Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta

"I didnt really know how to tell people about living in a castle," she says.

Upon realizing that this aspect of herself could significantly impact others' perception and judgment of her, she made a conscious decision to withhold this information until she had established a strong connection with a prospective companion.

"I reside in a castle, which is far from ordinary," she acknowledged. "This is genuinely distinctive and exceptional."

Sannazzaro Natta embarked on a journey to confront and understand the privilege bestowed upon her, while simultaneously developing a profound fascination for the extensive historical background of Castle Sannazaros and its intricate connection to her own familial heritage.

"I am captivated by the entwined history of both this site and my own family, spanning nearly 900 years," she expresses.

assisted her father in organizing ancient family correspondences, followed paranormal investigators to explore supernatural activities, and conducted research on her family lineage to unravel the origins of the castle. This 23-year-old individual resided in the Tower of London for three years.

Seeing the castle through a new lens

After completing high school, Sannazzaro Natta decided to pursue her passion for musical theater in the United States. When she revealed her family home to her new American friends, they were even more amazed than her Italian classmates. However, Sannazzaro Natta had grown more self-assured by then and felt empowered to embrace her own narrative.

"I refuse to conceal a portion of myself out of fear regarding their judgment," she concluded resolutely. "If they genuinely desire to understand me, they will accept this particular aspect of my identity, as it is an integral part of who I am."

However, during Sannazzaro Natta's studies in the United States, the Covid pandemic struck. Similar to numerous university students during this era, she had to relocate to her parents' residence – except, in her case, her parents' abode happened to be a castle.

I live in a castle. Thats so not normal. Thats very unique and special.

Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta

After her time away, Sannazzaro Natta experienced a renewed perspective on the fortress.

"I was amazed by the sheer beauty of this place. Often, I fail to acknowledge its true value, perhaps because it is my home, and familiarity tends to make it seem ordinary. However, my affection for this place runs deep, and I genuinely adore it."

With this newfound appreciation of the castle, The Castle Diary was born - Sannazzaro Natta's social media account dedicated to showcasing the essence of life within the medieval walls. Amidst her studies, she filled her time by sharing captivating videos on TikTok and Instagram that offered an authentic glimpse into the reality of residing in a picturesque fortress. "Yes, it exudes beauty," she elaborated, "but it also comes with its fair share of challenges, including poor Wi-Fi, an abundance of rooms to clean, and the constant presence of chilly drafts."

Ludovica Sannzzaro Natta started posting videos to social media about her life in the castle. In the videos, she often wears "Bridgerton"-inspired ballgowns.

Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta

In March 2021, her videos offered a timely escape from the pandemic, coinciding with the buzz surrounding the Netflix series "Bridgerton." Sannazzaro Natta seemed to embody a real-life version of the show, capturing the attention of many. With her TikTok account gaining rapid popularity, she fully embraced the period drama aesthetic by enlisting her mother's help in creating gowns that belonged to the 1800s rather than the present day.

Today, Sannazzaro Natta seldom includes modern attire in her videos and wholeheartedly embraces the "princess aesthetic" on social media. Simultaneously, she remains dedicated to highlighting the true essence of castle life. She continues to create videos featuring the castle's unexpected idiosyncrasies, ranging from its numerous outdated toilets to the exasperation of misplacing keys and traversing numerous winding flights of stairs to retrieve them.

Sannazzaro Natta is not a princess, but she stands to inherit her father's title and become a countess in the future, similar to something out of Bridgerton. However, this title holds no true significance in republican Italy. They recently purchased a dilapidated Italian castle and successfully converted it into a lavish retreat.

Experience a slice of castle life

A few rooms in Castle Sannazzaro are available as a vacation rental.

Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta

Sannazzaro Natta's social media presence has turned into a collaborative effort for her family. Her mother assists her with selecting outfits, her father frequently appears on camera, and her brother contributes to the administrative and financial aspects of her social media success. The Sannazzaro Natta family is delighted by the unexpected popularity of their videos, particularly due to the positive impact it has had on their bed and breakfast business at the castle.

You can live like Sannazzaro Natta for a day with the opportunity to rent six out of the eighteen bedrooms in the castle. Additionally, more rooms can be rented for weddings or other large events. The castle conveniently sits approximately one hour away from Milan, Turin, and Genoa, and it is just 650 meters away from Giarole Train Station.

"This region is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes," Sannazzaro Natta expresses. "It is dotted with charming little towns, surrounded by picturesque hills," she enthuses. "Undoubtedly, the culinary delights are exquisite, and the area is also celebrated for its fine wines. Therefore, one can find a multitude of diverse wineries available to explore."

Sharing the experience

Sannazzaro Natta wants to open the doors to the castle as much as possible and is looking to organize a ball next year.

Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta

Sannazzaro Natta relishes the moments when her castle is brimming with guests and brimming with liveliness. Whether it be the astonishment and joy expressed by her American friends (whose awe-inspiring encounters with the castle she frequently shares on social media) or the influx of tourists, she thrives on the vibrant atmosphere. In fact, if her social media efforts contribute to an increase in visitors, she considers it an added bonus.

"My dad opened the bed and breakfast with the intention of bringing life back into the castle. He yearned for people to experience and immerse themselves in its enchanting existence," she reveals. "And I share that very same desire."

Motivated by the triumph of her captivating social media aesthetic, Sannazzaro Natta envisions hosting forthcoming public events that wholeheartedly embrace what she refers to as the captivating "fantasy" of the castle. Her first endeavor will be to orchestrate a grand historical-themed ball in the year 2025.

I have something so unique and special that I want to share with people.

Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta

As an adult, Sannazzaro Natta is becoming more conscious of the expenses and maintenance associated with living in a castle. Additionally, organizing balls and historical events could serve as a means to ensure the castle's long-term preservation, which is of great importance to her since she will eventually inherit the property alongside her brother.

Sannazzaro Natta mentions that she is also pursuing a career in musical theater and currently daydreams about playing one of Henry VIII's six wives in the comedic musical "Six," all of whom had a deep connection with castles. She would be thrilled to have a performance hosted at Castle Sannazzaro.

Sannazzaro Natta's main objective is to share the enchanting ambiance of this exquisite destination with as many people as possible, either through social media or face-to-face interactions. "I possess something truly extraordinary and exceptional that I am eager to divulge to others," she expresses. "I firmly believe that numerous individuals are unaware of the existence of this remarkable reality, as they erroneously associate it solely with the realm of movies."