|
Historical Introduction Vialardis Lineage Library 1031-1147 1147-1426 1426-1933 1933-1997 Report on Excavations Downloads the Castle history (pdf) Vialardis History (pdf) The Statutes of the Commune Of Bugelle Site Map the Bookstore the Post Office Copyrights |
The Castle and World War II
Being general Emiliano Vialardi, brother of Carlo, at the head of an intelligence Allied organization, Torrione Castle became quickly an important security-related site. The price for the war involvement was high: in november 1943, the gothic oak carved ceiling and wall panels of the Castle's Great Chamber were looted by a S. D. (Sicherheitsdienst) company commanded by an unknown major and carried in Germany.
The Castle today
In 1983 Tomaso Vialardi, last Count of Sandigliano and grandson of Tomaso, determined himself to restore Torrione Castle, believing that such a place had an enduring historical significance for the whole region. In 1988 he embarked on this immense task and the restoration continued for three years. The work was sufficiently advanced by 1991 for Count Tomaso and his family to move in, but the restoration continued for three years afterwards.
Today Torrione Castle is a Security/Defense-related site, but also a house to be lived in, wholly and continuously; it needs bustle, flowers, music and love and it receives them all from Nicoletta, Countess of Sandigliano, wife of Tomaso Vialardi. The peace has now descended on the Castle, on its iron-red stones and bricks, a peace neither sought nor found by its earlier founders. It still remains one of the most intriguing medieval architecture in North Italy and one of the few examples of a northern Italian private fortress surviving from the Middle Ages.
Nobody, visiting it and placing his foot and hand in exactly the same positions as came to the occupants and soldiery of nearly six centuries ago, could remain for long unaware of its strong sense of continuity. In the hand of the Vialardi di Sandigliano all along its history, the Torrione is an extremely interesting illustration of how a great county family, with a propensity for war, was feeling its way towards independence and feudal power.
Sandigliano
Mentioned the first time in 996 (October 8), Sandigliano owes its existence to Sandilo, a Lombard knight who first decided to live there one century before its first document.
Being general Emiliano Vialardi, brother of Carlo, at the head of an intelligence Allied organization, Torrione Castle became quickly an important security-related site. The price for the war involvement was high: in november 1943, the gothic oak carved ceiling and wall panels of the Castle's Great Chamber were looted by a S. D. (Sicherheitsdienst) company commanded by an unknown major and carried in Germany.
The Castle today
In 1983 Tomaso Vialardi, last Count of Sandigliano and grandson of Tomaso, determined himself to restore Torrione Castle, believing that such a place had an enduring historical significance for the whole region. In 1988 he embarked on this immense task and the restoration continued for three years. The work was sufficiently advanced by 1991 for Count Tomaso and his family to move in, but the restoration continued for three years afterwards.
Today Torrione Castle is a Security/Defense-related site, but also a house to be lived in, wholly and continuously; it needs bustle, flowers, music and love and it receives them all from Nicoletta, Countess of Sandigliano, wife of Tomaso Vialardi. The peace has now descended on the Castle, on its iron-red stones and bricks, a peace neither sought nor found by its earlier founders. It still remains one of the most intriguing medieval architecture in North Italy and one of the few examples of a northern Italian private fortress surviving from the Middle Ages.
Nobody, visiting it and placing his foot and hand in exactly the same positions as came to the occupants and soldiery of nearly six centuries ago, could remain for long unaware of its strong sense of continuity. In the hand of the Vialardi di Sandigliano all along its history, the Torrione is an extremely interesting illustration of how a great county family, with a propensity for war, was feeling its way towards independence and feudal power.
Sandigliano
Mentioned the first time in 996 (October 8), Sandigliano owes its existence to Sandilo, a Lombard knight who first decided to live there one century before its first document.
© 1996-2006. All rights reserved
From the collection of:
the Vialardi di Sandigliano Foundation Museum and Center for History and Humanities
Abstract from the book:
“Verrone - L'immagine ricostruita” by Tomaso Vialardi di Sandigliano
(ISBN 8873201210)
Castello del Torrione™ is a registered trademark of Vialardi di Sandigliano Foundation © 1995-2008. All rights reserved.