Castle-hopping - Manta

The Manta castle is one of the few in Piedmont open in autumn and winter too, although the services leave something to be desired. We arrived in the late morning and a group had just set off (guided tours only), so we quickly joined the 11:30 group, which was in the little church. When we got to the entrance, there was a stand in the garden where a little man was selling entrance tickets; it took us aback to notice that no one showed any interest in us, we had to ask and take the initiative ourselves; they didn't offer anything, didn't describe anything, practically didn't consider us at all even though we were clearly interested in visiting the castle.

That aside, we caught up with the group in the lovely chapel beside the castle, and between frescoes of dubious authorship and explanations we learned that it wasn't possible to take photographs, or rather it was possible if you paid a surcharge...(astounding how many tricks they devise to make money!!) Everyone was taking them without flash, so we did the same. From the little church we passed through the garden and into the cellars of the castle, perched on the hill on the bare rock, so much so that in the cellars 3 walls are built of brick and one consists of the bare rock of the mountain. The cellars are bare and not entirely visitable; on display there are some ancient pieces, objects not entirely original to the period.

Going up you enter the large kitchen, very evocative and beautiful, which gives a very good idea of how it could have worked in the days of the counts (around 1400) and was functional and well-stocked. A brick floor and a large space for the fire with an immense cauldron hanging. There they cooked for everyone, rich and poor of the castle. A well directly in the kitchen was a luxury and made rainwater available in the kitchen. Some kitchen tools on the walls and a dip in the floor led directly outside, where all the scraps were directed (an ancient bin). A table placed where in ancient times there was probably a table for snacks and for resting the plates and cauldrons. The room was the warmest of the castle with the fire always lit; one door led from the kitchen to the private rooms and one to the cellar.

Via an external staircase we then reached the private and most luxurious rooms of the small castle of Manta; in the garden plants and tools, on the stairs an ancient suit of armour... A heavily frescoed dining room with a large fireplace, candelabra and paintings. A large, beautifully frescoed hall with a big fireplace; on one side of the room are depicted 9 important men and 9 women, figures drawn from a novel written by the father of the Lord who lived in the castle. On the other wall is depicted the fountain of eternal youth in a large, colourful painting, with many figures and scenes of hunting, love, symbolism.... a large coffered wooden ceiling and a painted niche at the back of the room.

The key room (the hall of the grotesques) was closed for restoration, so we passed into a long, narrow and very winding corridor, with a frescoed ceiling and many mirrors and paintings hung on the walls. To finish in style, the bedroom with a small green canopy bed, windows overlooking the park, tapestries on the walls, a coloured marble floor and doors leading outside and to the kitchen. The guide was very good at explaining and keeping interest alive; she told one of the many legends linked to the castle, the legend of the lady of the lily, an ancient lady who killed her suitors for fear of being discovered; it is said the ghost roams the castle on February nights, scenting the rooms with lily...... The park is small but very pretty and well kept, arches with climbing hedges, great centuries-old trees and benches under the pine.

The view from the garden is poor, but back then....who knows.... Entrance is 7 euros each for the guided tour, and on 18/11/2007 it also entitled you to a taste of polenta with cheeses. The car park is outside and a short stretch of road to reach the entrance is walked uphill. Interesting and satisfying; there was also a poor little café at the bottom of the park in a small building. I would say that if the entrance staff were just a little kinder and more interested in what they do, perhaps it would be more popular, or at least people would leave more satisfied. Some frescoes are very beautiful, the church and the paintings in the church are very beautiful. The castle has belonged to the FAI since '89 and there are still many restoration works to do. All in all it was an interesting visit, albeit brief (maximum 1 hour).