Fairytale Land

Castel Pergine towers over the ancient village below (Pergine Valsugana, Trentino, northern Italy).

The first recorded mention dates back to 1220. Some structural elements are documented in two records from 1270 and 1277: a palace, a tower at the edge of the fortifications, a guardhouse, and a ruined tower.

During the 20th century, the legend of the White Lady spread; the ghost of a noblewoman of the castle. There are also widespread rumors of long tunnels running beneath the hill and reaching the castle.

In 2018, the “Fondazione Castel Pergine” acquired the castle through a community-driven crowdfunding initiative. Committed to its preservation and maintenance, the Foundation manages and enhances the site as a center for knowledge, culture, and hospitality, promoting a model of sustainable tourism.

Today, Castel Pergine is both a hotel (the only hotel located in a castle in Trentino, northern Italy) and a gourmet restaurant.About these shots:after photographing Castel Pergine on numerous occasions and in every season, the last shot I wanted to take, the only one I was still missing, was in the morning, with fog and low clouds from which the castle would emerge, rising above its hill.

The right conditions were needed, along with a bit of patience, to make the view of the castle truly optimal.

That morning, in addition to the castle being surrounded by the clouds, it was also snowing.

Music credits:Song: FreedomComposer: Scott BuckleyWebsite: https://youtube.com/user/musicbyscottbLicense: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com