# Castle of Sammezzano

- **Country:** Italy
- **Coordinates:** 43.703000, 11.471700
- **Location Text:** Reggello

The Castle of Sammezzano, known locally as Castello di Sammezzano, is a historic palazzo situated in Leccio, a hamlet of Reggello within the Province of Florence, Tuscany, Italy. While the original structure was erected around 1605 by the Spanish nobleman Ximenes of Aragon, the building is most famous for its dramatic transformation during the 19th century. Between 1853 and 1889, Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona inherited the estate and extensively remodeled it into one of the largest and most significant examples of Moorish Revival architecture in Europe. The site gained notable prestige in 1878 when Umberto I, the King of Italy, visited Ferdinando at the castle.

This architectural marvel contains 365 rooms, each uniquely decorated with intricate Moorish motifs, including the renowned Peacock Room. Following World War II, the palazzo operated as a luxury hotel before eventually being vacated and closed to the public for many years. In 2012, a committee dedicated to Ferdinand Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona was formed with the goal of restoring and preserving the deteriorating structure. Despite its current closed status, the castle remains a subject of fascination due to its exotic design and vast scale.

The castle's striking visuals have also secured its place in popular culture and media. It served as a filming location for the 1989 Italian horror film Dinner with a Vampire and was featured in a music video by the band Shores of Null. More recently, the property was utilized as a set for the 2025 television series Sandokan, where it stood in for the residence of the Sultan of Brunei, highlighting its enduring appeal as a backdrop for stories requiring opulent and exotic settings.

![Photo of Castle of Sammezzano](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Castello_di_Sammezzano01.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammezzano (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)