At the beginning of the years 1900, the absence of mortgage and of bank credits have constrained Victoria and Paolo to sell Castelluccio to Roman representative Mazza. They moved in a modest apartment of Piazza Esedra and with little money they had left, Paolo opened in the street of Viminale the “first store of Palusse floriculture”, specialized in flowers and seeds.
The couple lived almost miserably until 1905 when Vittoria died of pneumonia and Paolo committed suicide. The grandchildren of Vittoria Guerrieri lived until recently in Citta della Pieve. In the local graveyard lies is the family´s tomb.
Perched on a hill, near to the center of the town of Citta della Pieve, Castelluccio Palusse, it finally opened its doors to the public.
After a few years of discard but thanks to the tenacity and love of the untiring new owner, Fernando Fastelli, Castelluccio became a hotel residence made up of 8 continuations which decoration and dimensions differ from the ancient ones, each one having its own evocative name.
To pay tribute to the beautiful appearance of Castelluccio, perhaps giving again its original splendor, its interior underwent full changes to adapt former spaces to the requirements of a hotel comfort.
The respect of the standards in general and in particular those related to the safeguarding of the environment and the safeguarding of the community inheritance was the master word.
One can see preserved at the Communal records of Citta beyond Pieve that on certain photographs of the beginning of the years 1900, Castelluccio Palusse has preserved its neo-gothic aspect with the same architectural elements which decorated the frontage and the windows. The principal frontage, like originally, is made up of three entrance doors presenting several embellishments. All the windows of stage, of square form, bear above them elements out of terra cotta which aspect recalls the two-opening window on the lathes, while always out of terra cotta, there is a cornice by stage like some escutcheons peerage-books of Spinolla.
Moreover, this restoration was the occasion to also add the escutcheons of the Fastellis´, current owners of Castelluccio.
The principal entry, with an archway shape of acute angle, is decorated with frameworks of floral images and Corinthian columns bearing the inscription “Castelluccio Palusse”.
On the handle of the door recently restored is registered the name of Pilade Mazza which, as indicated earlier, has succeeded Spinola in the ownership of Castelluccio.
From the door, topped by a three openings broad window, one can reach the sumptuous entry, nowadays a hall in which lies the superb terra cotta staircases, painted in a varnish of ivory color which lead to the second floor. On the right hand side door, one enters the living room named the zodiac chamber after the pictorial intervention of the Master Mario Marco Marroni, local craftsman in charge of painting original frescos in this living room, where one can admire a 360 degrees sight of the town based on the technique of ‘Trompe l´oeil”.
From the left side door, one reaches the dining room through small connected rooms, its walls and the ceiling skillfully restored include decorations of false wood. The 4 angels of the room of collati ..................... presentation of small ............ acqesantire recanti which comprise the Palusse inscription which was probably at the origin a wine dealer. All the door and the frames are original and some windows have glasses colour.
Nowadays, in the upper floors, the 8 Master rooms all of different dimensions, benefit from the original residences, 4 per floor with ceilings in painted half-arc by the Marroni Master.
In the back tower, larger and lower, is located at the second and the third floors only one Master Suite with a mezzanine and the possibility of reaching the external terrace by a spiral staircase.
The outside of Castelluccio is characterized by a large park of 6000 meter squares which one reaches by a majestic iron gate and characterized by a drawing designed with 3 orders of Gothic shelters horizontally crossed by the esoterical symbol of good and evil. In the park there are limes, chestnut trees of India, rare pines, cedars of Lebanon and other plants and flowers, inherited from the time of Vittoria Guerrieri. Beside the frontage, there is a gigantic oak of approximately 500 years having a width of almost 1,50 meter.
At the time of Spinolla, the principal ornament of the park was constituted of several gloriettes, all made out of iron which full-filled several functions. Some located along the alley were used as birdcages, sheltering several species of exotic animals; others like one can still admire on right-side of the frontage, were used as a breakfast place in summer.
In addition, a gigantic greenhouse of a rare beauty with a geodetic cupola of a 15 meters diameter lies inside the park, which in the past was used as a birdcage for exotic birds and baboons. Moreover, at the back of Castelluccio one can find a one-level building of rectangular form which was originnaly used as a tools-storage and then as a orangery.
Today in its hotel version, the new owners have choosen a small zone of spa and care-taking to guarantee the wellbeing and the relaxation of guests.
Welcome to the Relay Country House “Il Castelluccion Palusse” where history learns how to like the present and the present how to like the art.
