(BAD) Blog About Design: Castle Design: Castello del Valentino

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The Castello del Valentino is a historic castle located in Italy. It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, along with the Castle of Racconigi and many others. Between 1630 and 1660, the castle was expanded and renovated by architect Di Castellamonte. The castle has seen little change in appearance since then. Today, the building houses the architecture faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin. There is a fantastic botanical garden on the grounds! (ABOVE) The castle has a classic Italian architectural design. The castle is designed in a "u" shape. In front of the commanding gate is a large green lawn with much planting and flowers. (BELOW 1) Once you enter through the main gate, you are greeted by an inner courtyard. The stone floor features a lovely design. The colors, and design of the courtyard work well with the architecture of the structure. (BELOW 2) A close up view of the architectural details. I love all the windows. They are so thoughtfully adorned. The windows are all differently shaped, and adorned. (BELOW 3) The back of the castle faces the water. The back of the castle is very different from the front. While the front is stone, the back is brick. The back of the castle surprised me. I was expecting to see something similar to the front. What do you think of the castle?