Castello di Amorosa

One of the adventures while the kids were here was to visit the Castello di Amorosa (Castle of Love), a winery located near Calistoga, California. Our daughter-in-law found this impressive edifice while researching activities near Napa. So we made reservations for a wine tasting and self-guided tour of the castle.

The castle, which is architecturally faithful to the 12th and 13th century time period, includes 107 rooms on eight levels, both above and below ground. It includes a moat, drawbridge, defensive towers, an interior courtyard, a torture chamber, a chapel/church, a knights’ chamber, and a great hall with a 22-foot-high ceiling.

The great hall features frescoes painted by two Italian artists, who took about a year and a half to complete, and showcases a 500-year-old fireplace.

After trying five of their wines and eating a few finger foods, we took a leisurely stroll around the castle. After our castle adventures, we took a stroll through downtown Calistoga, which was very charming. Dallas was our personal chauffer all week. Their Tesla rental was a fun experience. Ask me about the Tesla light show next time you see me!