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I Capture The Haunting Beauty Of This Abandoned Castle In Italy (40 Pics)
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I Capture The Haunting Beauty Of This Abandoned Castle In Italy (40 Pics)

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On a road trip to Italy, at the end of February, I almost got stuck in Italy just before the border closed because of the COVID-19. One of the reasons for my trip was to visit a place mysteriously abandoned despite its grandeur and beauty. This magnificent 150 rooms castle was built at the start of the 20th century by a wealthy industrialist in a neo-gothic Italian style. Since then, it has passed from owner to owner following various bankruptcies. Arriving at the site at sunrise, I was able to take advantage of the rising sunlight to explore the surprising architecture.

More info: francismeslet.com

Well-ordered majesty

All comers

One privilege I particularly appreciate when offered to me is to be able to walk around the corridors of a ruined castle, a palace, a mansion or villa. The thought that invariably comes to mind is—how is it possible that such majestic places are today in such a state having known so many splendors? There are multiple reasons—problems of inheritances, bankruptcies, fires, or earthquakes—the list may be long. It is not for me to judge.

Gone with the light

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Spirit of the stairs

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I have to go now

Simply to know how to enjoy the view of these spaces, to enter with the utmost discretion, and walk around with the greatest respect. I wait for the day to dawn and try to understand how the architects and decorators devised such places, invariably admiring the increasing light. I become a châtelain or a viscount during my incognito visit and take the greatest pleasure in imagining what life was like for the occupants, finding the best angles to take pictures and leave discreetly where I came in, gladly leaving my noble title behind when I push back the shutter.

If you’re interested, you can find my previous posts here and here on Bored Panda.

The assured approach

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How far?

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Vain mass

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Francis Meslet

Francis Meslet

Author, Community member

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A graduate in Design from the Fine Art School of Nancy in 1986, early in his career Francis Meslet was a designer, but soon turned to advertising when he joined several agencies as an artistic director. After 34 years spent questioning the creative concept and studying images in all his compositions, he is now a creative director. Francis does not hesitate to roam the world in his spare time, searching for abandoned sites, sanctuaries where time seems to have stopped after humans have evacuated them. He thus brings back captivating and melancholic images of his travels to the other side of the world...Like time capsules, testifying to a parallel world and perfect for enabling the mind to wander and ponder, Francis Meslet’s melancholic images brave the passage of time, making way for silence after the memories left behind by human inhabitation. In these deserted places, no more than the rustling of the wind can be heard through a broken window or the sound of water dripping from a dilapidated ceiling. These silences nonetheless invite the spectator to slip into these well-guarded and mysterious places captured by the photographer and attempt to bring to life that which has been forgotten. In this power station orders were shouted in German, in this French Catholic school the cries of children resounded to the sound of the bell but who can imagine the sounds hidden behind the walls of this old psychiatric asylum in Italy or on the docks of this abandoned island off Japan? From these silences, everyone can imagine their own interpretations, ...reinterpretations.

Read less »
Francis Meslet

Francis Meslet

Author, Community member

A graduate in Design from the Fine Art School of Nancy in 1986, early in his career Francis Meslet was a designer, but soon turned to advertising when he joined several agencies as an artistic director. After 34 years spent questioning the creative concept and studying images in all his compositions, he is now a creative director. Francis does not hesitate to roam the world in his spare time, searching for abandoned sites, sanctuaries where time seems to have stopped after humans have evacuated them. He thus brings back captivating and melancholic images of his travels to the other side of the world...Like time capsules, testifying to a parallel world and perfect for enabling the mind to wander and ponder, Francis Meslet’s melancholic images brave the passage of time, making way for silence after the memories left behind by human inhabitation. In these deserted places, no more than the rustling of the wind can be heard through a broken window or the sound of water dripping from a dilapidated ceiling. These silences nonetheless invite the spectator to slip into these well-guarded and mysterious places captured by the photographer and attempt to bring to life that which has been forgotten. In this power station orders were shouted in German, in this French Catholic school the cries of children resounded to the sound of the bell but who can imagine the sounds hidden behind the walls of this old psychiatric asylum in Italy or on the docks of this abandoned island off Japan? From these silences, everyone can imagine their own interpretations, ...reinterpretations.

Vėjūnė Rimašiūtė

Vėjūnė Rimašiūtė

Author, Community member

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Vėjūnė is a community manager who helps artists all over the world introduce their artwork to Bored Panda readers and in that way, become more popular. Since she was always fascinated by the art world, she studied Culture Management and Cultural Policy at Vilnius Academy of Arts where she expanded her knowledge about it. Now she's using all this knowledge to showcase its beauty and help others dive into the fascinating world of art.

Read less »

Vėjūnė Rimašiūtė

Vėjūnė Rimašiūtė

Author, Community member

Vėjūnė is a community manager who helps artists all over the world introduce their artwork to Bored Panda readers and in that way, become more popular. Since she was always fascinated by the art world, she studied Culture Management and Cultural Policy at Vilnius Academy of Arts where she expanded her knowledge about it. Now she's using all this knowledge to showcase its beauty and help others dive into the fascinating world of art.

What do you think ?
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averageperson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The detail on every wall, the intricate carvings in every stair rail and doorway... it's really sad that such a beautiful place just sits there, useless. I would love to see someone renovate this and restore it to its former glory. By the way, the pictures are great.

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for comment. I'm sure this place will find a new owner and will be renovate soon.

Load More Replies...
b l a n c
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if i can't run around in a beautiful dress and get lost in this castle what am i even here for

Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's beautiful and would be more so if renovated but I can understand it being empty. What would you do with it? It doesn't look like a very inviting or comfortable living space.

Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It could be repurposed as some kind of public building. A museum would be the most obvious choice, or a culture centre, an administrative office, or something like that.

Load More Replies...
Raynell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The titles were really fascinating. It made me look deeper into the photos to try to see what inspired them. The building is absolutely mesmerizing in terms of the level of care the crafters put into each detail. I hope it finds a new use soon.

Hollysmom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gorgeous. I'm surprised that it remains abandoned. Such a waste

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I assume it is owned by a bank, the last owner went bankrupt and the property was probably seized by creditors. Thank you for comment

Load More Replies...
Anne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The picture titles were distracting from the beauty of the castle. They don't match

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Il'ts your own opinion. Not the opinion of everybody. But sure I respect. Thank you for comment

Load More Replies...
P.girija Puchhakayala
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Castle looks so beautiful and i think u enjoyed a lot when u see such wonderful Castle sir!!!. By the i also want to visit that place. Feeling like once upon a time there lived a Queen....

Julia Mi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ah, it could be made into university. What would make this space more alive, and rooms 150 rooms more useful, than hundreds of students.

TaranW
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would really hope the local historical society [if there is one] manages to somehow get this place. It's really not liveable, I can't imagine the cost of living there/bringing it up to snuff in regards to modernity while preserving the architectural quality of the building. Would need to fall into very, very financially wealthy hands, and those hands would need to know how to spend that money wisely. Otherwise it has great potential to be a public building, museum or otherwise. Great photos.

Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a shame that it's been abandoned. Amazing building, though some of the decor (such as the circles that are half-light colored and half-orange colored) is ugly.

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, it should be remembered that the construction of this castle is recent, at the beginning of the 20th century. He's barely a hundred years old. It is itself a gigantic reproduction and imitation of neo-gothic styles. There is nothing really feudal about it. And it is true that some attempts at restoring paint are rather aproximative or even in bad taste. Thank you for comment

Load More Replies...
averageperson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The detail on every wall, the intricate carvings in every stair rail and doorway... it's really sad that such a beautiful place just sits there, useless. I would love to see someone renovate this and restore it to its former glory. By the way, the pictures are great.

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for comment. I'm sure this place will find a new owner and will be renovate soon.

Load More Replies...
b l a n c
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if i can't run around in a beautiful dress and get lost in this castle what am i even here for

Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's beautiful and would be more so if renovated but I can understand it being empty. What would you do with it? It doesn't look like a very inviting or comfortable living space.

Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It could be repurposed as some kind of public building. A museum would be the most obvious choice, or a culture centre, an administrative office, or something like that.

Load More Replies...
Raynell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The titles were really fascinating. It made me look deeper into the photos to try to see what inspired them. The building is absolutely mesmerizing in terms of the level of care the crafters put into each detail. I hope it finds a new use soon.

Hollysmom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gorgeous. I'm surprised that it remains abandoned. Such a waste

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I assume it is owned by a bank, the last owner went bankrupt and the property was probably seized by creditors. Thank you for comment

Load More Replies...
Anne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The picture titles were distracting from the beauty of the castle. They don't match

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Il'ts your own opinion. Not the opinion of everybody. But sure I respect. Thank you for comment

Load More Replies...
P.girija Puchhakayala
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Castle looks so beautiful and i think u enjoyed a lot when u see such wonderful Castle sir!!!. By the i also want to visit that place. Feeling like once upon a time there lived a Queen....

Julia Mi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ah, it could be made into university. What would make this space more alive, and rooms 150 rooms more useful, than hundreds of students.

TaranW
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would really hope the local historical society [if there is one] manages to somehow get this place. It's really not liveable, I can't imagine the cost of living there/bringing it up to snuff in regards to modernity while preserving the architectural quality of the building. Would need to fall into very, very financially wealthy hands, and those hands would need to know how to spend that money wisely. Otherwise it has great potential to be a public building, museum or otherwise. Great photos.

Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a shame that it's been abandoned. Amazing building, though some of the decor (such as the circles that are half-light colored and half-orange colored) is ugly.

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, it should be remembered that the construction of this castle is recent, at the beginning of the 20th century. He's barely a hundred years old. It is itself a gigantic reproduction and imitation of neo-gothic styles. There is nothing really feudal about it. And it is true that some attempts at restoring paint are rather aproximative or even in bad taste. Thank you for comment

Load More Replies...
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