tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82720280041400278152024-03-12T21:45:56.642-07:00ZucchettiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8272028004140027815.post-26623505386851508572011-07-28T00:40:00.000-07:002011-07-28T00:46:19.045-07:00GREEN GOOD DESIGN<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cjyJiO4KS3s/TjETphWHPGI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Hs83R8jCWiA/s1600/isy1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cjyJiO4KS3s/TjETphWHPGI/AAAAAAAAAKg/Hs83R8jCWiA/s400/isy1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634306212863884386" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgktZVen_Ms/TjETUId7DmI/AAAAAAAAAKY/ARKhsIkiIng/s1600/isy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgktZVen_Ms/TjETUId7DmI/AAAAAAAAAKY/ARKhsIkiIng/s400/isy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634305845408501346" /></a><br /><div class="grey16 padB20">ISY GETS THE GREEN GOOD DESIGN AWARD </div><!--/title0--><!--text1--> <p align="justify"><span ><span ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><strong><span >The ISY by Zucchetti collection, designed by Matteo Thun with Antonio Rodriguez, wins the 2011 Green GOOD DESIGN Award..</span></strong></span>The GOOD DESIGN program was founded in Chicago in 1950 by a group of visionary designers and architects, headed by Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, as a way to reward innovative and original products and architectures worldwide.<br />In 2009, The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre added a new dimension to the historic annual GOOD DESIGN program by introducing a separate edition to the annual awards to promote a greater understanding of the need to develop a global design that was not just “Good” but also “Green.”<br />The Green GOOD DESIGN idea is to point attention on designers, architects, and manufacturers who are making a superior job in terms of protecting our environment, encouraging sustainability and recycling, using smart materials, conserving resources.</span></span></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><span > A very important achievement for ISY, a product that from the very beginning has made eco-sustainability, materials and energy saving its own strengths.<br />Presented by Zucchetti Rubinetteria 10 years ago, ISY is a real water management system, a project involving reduction, born to simplify and rationalize shapes and materials. This innovative collection has obtained the highest production efficiency and has been a veritable revolution in the world of taps. </span></p> <p align="justify"><span ></span></p> <p align="justify"><span ><strong>To manufacture Isy 50% less metal than traditional taps is used; thanks to a reduced cartridge the water flow is from 30% to 60% lower than standard values, but however ensures a full and comfortable jet. The packaging is realized in 100% recyclable material, for a minimal impact on the environment.</strong> </span></p> <p align="justify"><span ></span></p> <p align="justify"><span >The Zucchetti.Kos Group has always been sensitive to the issue of environmental sustainability and it constantly researches technological solutions capable of allowing water saving and energy. The primary aim is always to optimize production processes and plants, with particular attention to the preservation of environmental resources.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8272028004140027815.post-78974486721083456382011-07-12T01:48:00.000-07:002011-07-12T01:51:40.317-07:00Luxury Castles<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; " ><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">By any one’s definition, owning your own castle must be considered the ultimate in <em style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">luxury real estate</em>. A few attempts have been made to build castles over the last few years, but the prohibitive costs are such that one tends to see over-sized villas or high-rises instead. So, this article deals with what I consider to be genuine castles. Most of them are extremely old and the running costs are such that they could only appeal to a genuinely wealthy individual. By genuinely wealthy, I mean bottomless pockets or you already own a country. (Or an oil company). <img src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":lol:" class="wp-smiley" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; " /> Most of these are for sale, or available to rent, although some are just fascinating.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Eilean Donan, Scotland<br /></strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This first one is Eilean Donan castle in Scotland, situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some pretty dramatic scenery, particularly in winter.</p><div id="attachment_881" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/eilean-donan-castle.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="eilean-donan-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-881" title="eilean-donan-castle" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/eilean-donan-castle.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="353" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland</p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Available to rent on a by-the-day basis, although the owners suggest hiring it during the winter if you want to avoid crowds of tourists. Originally built in the 13th century, the castle has been demolished and rebuilt several times over the years and the current incarnation has starred in many films, including Highlander and James Bond – The World is not Enough. Larger versions of the photos here are available for download at the castle’s website.<a href="http://www.eileandonancastle.com/home.htm" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "></a></p><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-82-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-651" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/eileandonan_wp_1_1024.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="eilean-donon-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="eileandonan_wp_1_1024.jpg" alt="eileandonan_wp_1_1024.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/thumbs/thumbs_eileandonan_wp_1_1024.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-652" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/eileandonan_wp_2_1024.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="eilean-donon-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="eileandonan_wp_2_1024.jpg" alt="eileandonan_wp_2_1024.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/thumbs/thumbs_eileandonan_wp_2_1024.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-653" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/eileandonan_wp_3_1024.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="eilean-donon-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="eileandonan_wp_3_1024.jpg" alt="eileandonan_wp_3_1024.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/thumbs/thumbs_eileandonan_wp_3_1024.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-654" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/eileandonan_wp_4_1024.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="eilean-donon-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="eileandonan_wp_4_1024.jpg" alt="eileandonan_wp_4_1024.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/eilean-donon-castle/thumbs/thumbs_eileandonan_wp_4_1024.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Dracula’s Castle, Romania<br /></strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">The next castle is often referred to as Dracula’s castle, although the real name is Bran castle.</p><div id="attachment_968" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 581px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/dracula.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="dracula" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-968" title="dracula" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/dracula.jpg" alt="Bran Castle, Romania" width="581" height="435" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Bran Castle, Romania</p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Perched on a cliff near <span id="lw_1183400409_0" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; ">Brasov</span> in central Romania, it is a major tourist attraction, largely because of its ties to Prince Vlad the Impaler, the warlord who inspired <span id="lw_1183400409_1" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; cursor: pointer; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; ">Bram Stoker</span>’s 1897 novel, “<span id="lw_1183400409_2" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Dracula</span>.” Legend has it that Vlad spent one night at the castle in the 1400s . The castle was returned to it’s “rightful” owners, the Habsburg family after the fall of communism. Arch Duke Dominic Habsburg immediately offered the castle back to the Romanian government for $80 million but the offer was rejected. It then went on the open market, and I understand it is still available. Baytree Capital, the firm representing the family are of the opinion that the castle will eventually sell for $135 million, although I feel this is a little ambitious – especially with Romanian lawyers still fighting over the the decision to return it to the family in the first place. Time will tell.</p><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-88-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-702" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/Castle_Bran.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="bran-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Castle_Bran.jpg" alt="Castle_Bran.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/thumbs/thumbs_Castle_Bran.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-703" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/Castul_Bran_courtyard_view1.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="bran-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Castul_Bran_courtyard_view1.jpg" alt="Castul_Bran_courtyard_view1.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/thumbs/thumbs_Castul_Bran_courtyard_view1.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-704" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/Castul_Bran_courtyard_view2.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="bran-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Castul_Bran_courtyard_view2.jpg" alt="Castul_Bran_courtyard_view2.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/thumbs/thumbs_Castul_Bran_courtyard_view2.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-705" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/Bran_castel_secret_passage.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="bran-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Bran_castel_secret_passage.jpg" alt="Bran_castel_secret_passage.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bran-castle/thumbs/thumbs_Bran_castel_secret_passage.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Castello di Mazzè, Turin, Italy</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This beautiful castle in Turin is available for hire to cater wedding parties at around 2,500-5,500 Euros a day and for sale at around 15 million Euros. (Negotiable). Notable visitors in the past include: King Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia, Count of Cavour, Zar Nicola II, Count Brunetta d’Usseaux, Francesco De Sanctis and Benito Mussolini. Originally constructed in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 15th, the founder of the Italian Olympic movement, Count Eugenio Brunetta d’Usseax also lived here.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_1051" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 581px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castello-di-mazze.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="castello-di-mazze" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1051" title="castello-di-mazze" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castello-di-mazze.jpg" alt="Castello di Mazze, Torino" width="581" height="436" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Castello di Mazze, Torino</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-98-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-764" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/picc-da-park-top-800.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="mazze-castle-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="picc-da-park-top-800.JPG" alt="picc-da-park-top-800.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/thumbs/thumbs_picc-da-park-top-800.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-765" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/sala-tron-500.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="mazze-castle-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="sala-tron-500.jpg" alt="sala-tron-500.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/thumbs/thumbs_sala-tron-500.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-766" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/vist-aere-top-600.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="mazze-castle-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="vist-aere-top-600.jpg" alt="vist-aere-top-600.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/thumbs/thumbs_vist-aere-top-600.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-767" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/vist-picc-dora-top-800.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="mazze-castle-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="vist-picc-dora-top-800.JPG" alt="vist-picc-dora-top-800.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/mazze-castle-italy/thumbs/thumbs_vist-picc-dora-top-800.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.castellodimazze.it/index-english.html" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Castle website with more details and photos.</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Castello di Casole, Italy</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This is another castle in Italy. Lovingly restored along with 30 farmhouses on the largest privately-owned piece of land in Italy. For sale as fractional ownerships, although I believe some of the farmhouses are available as complete sales.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><img class="size-large wp-image-2726 aligncenter" title="cc_castello" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cc_castello-580x432.jpg" alt="Castello di Casole" width="580" height="432" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; display: block; float: none; clear: both; " /></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "></p><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-180-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-1392" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/SG_ext_fromdriveway_lowres.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="luxury-villa-tuscany-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="SG_ext_fromdriveway_lowres.jpg" alt="SG_ext_fromdriveway_lowres.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/thumbs/thumbs_SG_ext_fromdriveway_lowres.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-1393" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/SG_ext_nite_spa_view_lowres.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="luxury-villa-tuscany-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="SG_ext_nite_spa_view_lowres.jpg" alt="SG_ext_nite_spa_view_lowres.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/thumbs/thumbs_SG_ext_nite_spa_view_lowres.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-1394" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/lacasa_ext_night_2_lowres.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="luxury-villa-tuscany-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="lacasa_ext_night_2_lowres.jpg" alt="lacasa_ext_night_2_lowres.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/thumbs/thumbs_lacasa_ext_night_2_lowres.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-1395" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/lacasa_guestsitting2_lowres.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="luxury-villa-tuscany-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="lacasa_guestsitting2_lowres.jpg" alt="lacasa_guestsitting2_lowres.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/thumbs/thumbs_lacasa_guestsitting2_lowres.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-1396" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/lacasa_kitchen_lowres.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="luxury-villa-tuscany-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="lacasa_kitchen_lowres.jpg" alt="lacasa_kitchen_lowres.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/thumbs/thumbs_lacasa_kitchen_lowres.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-1397" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/lacasa_livingroom_lowres.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="luxury-villa-tuscany-italy" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="lacasa_livingroom_lowres.jpg" alt="lacasa_livingroom_lowres.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/luxury-villa-tuscany-italy/thumbs/thumbs_lacasa_livingroom_lowres.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.castellodicasole.com/?utm_source=broker&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=mikecuthbertson&bid=870" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Castello di Casole.</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Bled Castle, Slovenia<br /></strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Perched atop a cliff seems to be a popular position, and this next castle dates back to 1004, making it one of the oldest in Slovenia. The oldest part of the castle is the Romanesque tower, although additions have been made over the years. During the Middle Ages more towers were built and other buildings were added during the Baroque period. The chapel in the upper courtyard was built in the 16th century, and renovated around 1700, when it was painted with illusionist frescoes. This one is not currently for sale or rent, but is a popular tourist destination.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_1026" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 581px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/grad-coln.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="grad-coln" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1026" title="grad-coln" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/grad-coln.jpg" alt="Bled Castle viewed from Bled Lake" width="581" height="875" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Bled Castle viewed from Bled Lake</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-94-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-744" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/bled-castle%20-%201.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="bled-castle-slovenia" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="bled-castle - 1.jpg" alt="bled-castle - 1.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/thumbs/thumbs_bled-castle%20-%201.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-745" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/bled-castle%20-%202.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="bled-castle-slovenia" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="bled-castle - 2.jpg" alt="bled-castle - 2.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/thumbs/thumbs_bled-castle%20-%202.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-746" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/bled-castle%20-%203.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="bled-castle-slovenia" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="bled-castle - 3.jpg" alt="bled-castle - 3.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/thumbs/thumbs_bled-castle%20-%203.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-747" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/bled-castle%20-%204.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="bled-castle-slovenia" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="bled-castle - 4.jpg" alt="bled-castle - 4.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/bled-castle-slovenia/thumbs/thumbs_bled-castle%20-%204.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">For more superb photographs, visit – <a href="http://www.cut-bled.com/" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">cut-bled.com</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Biniés Castle</strong><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">, Huesca, Spain</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This next one is interesting because currently being used as a residence and the owners have spent some considerable time and effort renovating. Originally constructed in the 11th century, Biniés Castle is perched above the village with spectacular views of the valley. <a href="http://www.carlosmorante-castles.com/page/page/5661497.htm" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">For Sale by owner</a>, price on application, although, I think they could do with a new camera.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_1006" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 500px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/biin.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="biin" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1006" title="biin" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/biin.jpg" alt="Biniés Castle, Huesca, Spain" width="500" height="666" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Biniés Castle, Huesca, Spain</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-91-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-718" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/binies-castle%20-%201.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="binies-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="binies-castle - 1.jpg" alt="binies-castle - 1.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/thumbs/thumbs_binies-castle%20-%201.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-719" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/binies-castle%20-%202.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="binies-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="binies-castle - 2.jpg" alt="binies-castle - 2.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/thumbs/thumbs_binies-castle%20-%202.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-720" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/binies-castle%20-%203.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="binies-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="binies-castle - 3.jpg" alt="binies-castle - 3.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/thumbs/thumbs_binies-castle%20-%203.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-721" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/binies-castle%20-%204.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="binies-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="binies-castle - 4.jpg" alt="binies-castle - 4.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/binies-castle/thumbs/thumbs_binies-castle%20-%204.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Walton Castle, Somerset, England</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This castle was originally built for Lord Poulett, a Somerset member of Parliament, back in the days when only the landed gentry were allowed to run for office, although, as I think about it, things haven’t really changed in that regard <img src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; " /> – Now you need to have been to the right university and have friends with money behind you. Walton castle has been completely restored by the current owner and is for sale for £4.5 million, although I understand that the price is negotiable and if you want to “try it on for size” available for short-term rental. There are not many <a href="http://www.castleproperties.com/listing-castles-for-sale-in-england-87.html" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">castles for sale in England</a> at any given time – but this one is interesting of you have bottomless pockets.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_1035" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 480px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/walton-castle-somerset.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="walton-castle-somerset" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1035" title="walton-castle-somerset" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/walton-castle-somerset.jpg" alt="Walton Castle, England" width="480" height="462" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Walton Castle, England</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-95-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-748" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/12512651.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="walton-castle-somerset-england" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="12512651.jpg" alt="12512651.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/thumbs/thumbs_12512651.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-749" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/87020215.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="walton-castle-somerset-england" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="87020215.jpg" alt="87020215.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/thumbs/thumbs_87020215.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-750" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/90824015.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="walton-castle-somerset-england" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="90824015.jpg" alt="90824015.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/thumbs/thumbs_90824015.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-751" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/96528177.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="walton-castle-somerset-england" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="96528177.jpg" alt="96528177.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/walton-castle-somerset-england/thumbs/thumbs_96528177.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Full details at the castle’s website – <a href="http://www.waltoncastle.co.uk/" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Walton castle</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Nakatso-Jo Castle, Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture, Japan</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Current Owner Masayuki Okudaira, placed the castle up for sale recently for the sum of $3 million. This seems like a bargain, but the horrendous cost of maintaining the building means that is not necessarily the case. The city of Nakatsu is deciding whether or not to buy the local tourist attraction, where visitors can also view heirlooms from local governing families of past eras exhibited inside. Originally constructed around 1587, the current five-tiered castle was rebuilt in 1964 after being destroyed by fire in the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion.</p><div id="attachment_1038" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/nakatsujo02.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="nakatsujo02" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1038" title="nakatsujo02" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/nakatsujo02.jpg" alt="Nakatsu-Jo Castle, Oita Prefecture, Japan" width="580" height="386" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Nakatsu-Jo Castle, Oita Prefecture, Japan</p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Photo courtesy <a href="http://www45.tok2.com/home/todo94/castle-47.htm" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">全国城郭管理者協議会加盟48城</a> The following photos are a random sample from their fantastic collection. Pay them a visit to see more.</p><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-96-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-752" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/fukuchiyamajo-tenshu2.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="fukuchiyamajo-tenshu2.JPG" alt="fukuchiyamajo-tenshu2.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_fukuchiyamajo-tenshu2.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-753" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/himejijo-tenshu6.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="himejijo-tenshu6.JPG" alt="himejijo-tenshu6.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_himejijo-tenshu6.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-754" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/hiroshimajo-tenshu5.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="hiroshimajo-tenshu5.JPG" alt="hiroshimajo-tenshu5.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_hiroshimajo-tenshu5.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-755" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/kiyosujo.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="kiyosujo.JPG" alt="kiyosujo.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_kiyosujo.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-756" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/matsumotojo-up.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="matsumotojo-up.JPG" alt="matsumotojo-up.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_matsumotojo-up.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-757" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/odawarajo-tenshu3.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="odawarajo-tenshu3.JPG" alt="odawarajo-tenshu3.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_odawarajo-tenshu3.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-758" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/shurijo-seiden.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="shurijo-seiden.JPG" alt="shurijo-seiden.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_shurijo-seiden.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-759" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/tsujo-sanjuyagura.JPG" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="japanese-castles" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="tsujo-sanjuyagura.JPG" alt="tsujo-sanjuyagura.JPG" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/japanese-castles/thumbs/thumbs_tsujo-sanjuyagura.JPG" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Villa Castiglione, Capri, Italy</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Now this is the sort of price I would expect to have to pay for genuine luxury real estate. The Villa Castiglione in Capri is for sale at $38 million. Now we’re talking – eight double bedrooms, five bathrooms with fittings of the finest Italian marble and gold taps, several rooms for entertaining and a rich history including a brief spell as a British naval base during the Napoleonic wars. And unlike its Scottish brethren, you won’t need a small forest of wood to keep the building heated during the winter.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_1043" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/villa-castiglione.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="villa-castiglione" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1043" title="villa-castiglione" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/villa-castiglione.jpg" alt="Villa Castiglione, Capri, Italy" width="580" height="337" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Villa Castiglione, Capri, Italy</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-97-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-760" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/img_1.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="villa-castiglione-capri" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="img_1.jpg" alt="img_1.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/thumbs/thumbs_img_1.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-761" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/img_2.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="villa-castiglione-capri" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="img_2.jpg" alt="img_2.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/thumbs/thumbs_img_2.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-762" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/img_3.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="villa-castiglione-capri" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="img_3.jpg" alt="img_3.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/thumbs/thumbs_img_3.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-763" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/img_8.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox no_icon" rel="villa-castiglione-capri" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="img_8.jpg" alt="img_8.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/villa-castiglione-capri/thumbs/thumbs_img_8.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Photos courtesy the agents,<a href="http://www.capri-immobili-realestate.com/villa_for_sale.html" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "> Capri Real Estate</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Mock Castles<br /></strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">Not all castles are fortified, and during the <span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Gothic Revival</span> in architecture, many “castles” were built. These castles had no defensive capabilities, but used elements of earlier castles, such as<span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">castellation</span> and towers for purely decorative purposes. These features were personified in the<span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Scottish Baronial</span> style and many of them were <span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">country houses</span>. These “mock castles” were particularly common in the UK and Ireland, Belfast Castle and Castle Oliver being two such examples. Famous revival castles in other countries include <span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Neuschwanstein</span> in Germany, Miramare in Italy, and <span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Castillo de Chapultepec</span> in Mexico. The castle in the photograph below is<span class="mw-redirect" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Neuschwanstein in Germany and this photo was voted one of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Castle_Neuschwanstein.jpg" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">wikipedia’s finest images</a>. Click on the image to see a large version. Beautiful subject and photography.</span></p><div id="attachment_1033" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 586px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castle_neuschwanstein.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="castle_neuschwanstein" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1033" title="castle_neuschwanstein" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castle_neuschwanstein.jpg" alt="Castle Neuschwanstein at Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany" width="586" height="384" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Castle Neuschwanstein at Schwangau, Bavaria, Germany</p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">French Chateaux</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">I think it is fair to include French chateaux as mock castles, and there are a large number of them for sale, varying in size and quality. More importantly though is the condition. Many of the old French castles are in a horrible state of repair. These next few have all been renovated recently.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Aquitaine, France</strong></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_983" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 579px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/chateau-aquitaine-2.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="chateau-aquitaine-2" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-983" title="chateau-aquitaine-2" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/chateau-aquitaine-2.jpg" alt="Chateau Aquitaine" width="579" height="432" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Chateau Aquitaine</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-89-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-706" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%201.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 1.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 1.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%201.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-707" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%203.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 3.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 3.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%203.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-708" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%204.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 4.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 4.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%204.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-709" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%205.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 5.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 5.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%205.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-710" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%206.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 6.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 6.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%206.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-711" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%207.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 7.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 7.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%207.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-712" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%208.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 8.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 8.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%208.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-713" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/Chateau-aquitaine%20-%209.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="chateau-for-sale-dordogne" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="Chateau-aquitaine - 9.jpg" alt="Chateau-aquitaine - 9.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/chateau-for-sale-dordogne/thumbs/thumbs_Chateau-aquitaine%20-%209.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">According to the listing agents, “t<span id="mplcb_1en" class="PropDescription" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; display: inline; ">he castle is tucked away on a property of 25 hectares park with secular trees, rose bushes and shrubs. The outbuildings consist of a beautiful guardian house, guesthouses and conference rooms. Furthermore there are a swimming pool and a tennis court. This imposing property is ideal for a luxurious hotel or large family house.” Price on Application. Agent.<br /></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This next one is a 16th century stronghold house that was redesigned and added to in the 18th century. Described as “small,” it has a surface area of 1,722 square feet with a 600+ square foot conservatory. A bargain at 1.1 million Euros.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div id="attachment_1002" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castle-ile-de-france.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="castle-ile-de-france" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1002" title="castle-ile-de-france" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castle-ile-de-france.jpg" alt="Castle for sale Ile de France" width="580" height="382" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Castle for sale Ile de France</p></div></div><div class="ngg-galleryoverview" id="ngg-gallery-90-957" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 620px; clear: both; display: block !important; "><div id="ngg-image-714" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/castle-ile-de-france%20-%201.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="castle-ile-de-france" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="castle-ile-de-france - 1.jpg" alt="castle-ile-de-france - 1.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/thumbs/thumbs_castle-ile-de-france%20-%201.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-715" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/castle-ile-de-france%20-%202.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="castle-ile-de-france" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="castle-ile-de-france - 2.jpg" alt="castle-ile-de-france - 2.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/thumbs/thumbs_castle-ile-de-france%20-%202.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-716" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/castle-ile-de-france%20-%203.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="castle-ile-de-france" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="castle-ile-de-france - 3.jpg" alt="castle-ile-de-france - 3.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/thumbs/thumbs_castle-ile-de-france%20-%203.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div id="ngg-image-717" class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><div class="ngg-gallery-thumbnail" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; text-align: center; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/castle-ile-de-france%20-%204.jpg" title=" " class="thickbox" rel="castle-ile-de-france" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img title="castle-ile-de-france - 4.jpg" alt="castle-ile-de-france - 4.jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/gallery/castle-ile-de-france/thumbs/thumbs_castle-ile-de-france%20-%204.jpg" width="160" height="120" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-right-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-bottom-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); border-left-color: rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; position: relative; " /></a></div></div><div class="ngg-clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.patrice-besse.co.uk/castles-for-sale/champagne-ardennes/champagne-small-castle-for-sale/" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Agent’s website.</a> Unlike most sites purporting to sell castles, this agent does not have a medieval website to go with the property, which is more than I can say for the last in this series.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Vichy, France</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">This next one is described by the selling agents as a “Four Star Castle-Hotel.” Currently fitted out as a hotel, it is 2400 square meters on 4 levels, sits in 15 hectares of land and there is a “natural mineral gas water production place,” included, which I feel may have been lost in translation. Price – $9 million. <a href="http://www.castles-for-sale.com/sale/France/France.htm" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Agents site.</a></p><div id="attachment_1048" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cote-vichy-castle.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="cote-vichy-castle" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1048" title="cote-vichy-castle" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cote-vichy-castle.jpg" alt="Castle/Hotel for sale in France" width="580" height="340" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Castle/Hotel for sale in France</p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Modern Castles</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Singer Castle (formerly Jorstadt Castle,) Chippewa Bay, St. Lawrence Thousand Island Seaway, New York</strong></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></strong>Jorstadt Island was designed at the turn of the century by famous Beaux-Arts architect Ernest Flagg as a summer residence and hunting lodge for the president of Singer Sewing Machine Co. and inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s Woodstock Castle. Set amid 7 acres of lush landscaped gardens and terraces, it stands just north of the St. Lawrence Seaway complete with dungeons, turrets, towers, secret passageways, and subterranean labyrinths.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">The 28-room, 5-story granite masterpiece has a Chapel with Gothic windows on 3 sides, a paneled library, elegant drawing room loggia, sun room, wine cellar, private offices, 17 bedrooms and 10 baths. The Great Hall boasts massive arched stone pillars, spiral stone stairways with hand-carved balustrades, and one of the castle’s 10 magnificent fireplaces. It was recently renamed “Singer Castle,” and is for sale at $9.5 million.</p><div id="attachment_1055" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/singer-castle_jpg.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="singer-castle_jpg" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1055" title="singer-castle_jpg" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/singer-castle_jpg.jpg" alt="Singer Castle, New York" width="580" height="487" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Singer Castle, New York</p></div><div id="attachment_1056" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 581px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/singer-castle-aerial.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="singer-castle-aerial" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1056" title="singer-castle-aerial" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/singer-castle-aerial.jpg" alt="Aerial view of Singer Castle" width="581" height="415" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Aerial view of Singer Castle</p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.singercastle.com/start.html" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Singer Castle website</a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; ">I am not sure this last one counts as a “mock castle” because it was built recently and looks pretty defensible. I didn’t realise anyone built castles any more, but this company, <a href="http://www.castlemagic.com/color.html" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; ">Castle Magic</a>, apparently still does. This particular castle is in Idaho and according to the builder’s website was “Built in 1999 as a snowy mountain retreat, the two foot thick stone castle walls were built by laying up double walls of split ashlar rock to create a permanent formwork for the hidden steel reinforced concrete core and layers of waterproof insulation. Hydronic floor heat hidden in the stone and hardwood floors throughout the castle keep the interior toasty warm in addition to two stone fireplaces. Stone arched handcrafted walnut windows,stained glass, torches, and hand forged light fixtures. Includes 4-car garage, indoor pool, 3 towers, and real stone & carved hardwoods. You can ski in & out to the chairlifts from the castle.” Luxury real estate indeed <img src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; " /> Price – $2,632,000.</p><div id="attachment_1044" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="padding-top: 0.714em; padding-right: 0.714em; padding-bottom: 0.714em; padding-left: 0.714em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: center; font-style: italic; float: none; clear: both; border-top-width: 0.071em; border-right-width: 0.071em; border-bottom-width: 0.071em; border-left-width: 0.071em; width: 580px; "><a href="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castlepicture.jpg" class="thickbox no_icon" rel="gallery-957" title="castlepicture" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline; "><img class="size-full wp-image-1044" title="castlepicture" src="http://blog.luxuryproperty.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/castlepicture.jpg" alt="Castle for sale, Idaho" width="580" height="791" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a><p class="wp-caption-text" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.857em; line-height: 1.5em; ">Castle for sale, Idaho</p></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8272028004140027815.post-32076726440275366852011-07-07T23:25:00.000-07:002011-07-07T23:25:30.807-07:00Faraway by Zucchetti.KoS backstage<iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Njqbl_x0TYU?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8272028004140027815.post-73341662204330785602011-07-07T23:07:00.000-07:002011-07-07T23:22:28.493-07:00Zucchetti in VOGUE INDIA-July-2011<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mwlQueFQzJk/ThaiEj5LHXI/AAAAAAAAAJM/uK6KWJZDKsE/s1600/vogue-india.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mwlQueFQzJk/ThaiEj5LHXI/AAAAAAAAAJM/uK6KWJZDKsE/s400/vogue-india.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626862983684234610" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8272028004140027815.post-25141715408590883022011-07-07T22:53:00.001-07:002011-07-07T23:06:57.323-07:00ZUCCHETTI: AN 80-YEAR JOURNEY IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE<span class="Apple-style-span">Zucchetti's success story first began in a small foundry in Valduggia (in the province of Vercelli) set up by Alfredo Zucchetti in 1929. Today the Zucchetti.Kos Group, led by the third generation, Elena and Carlo, with cousins Marco and Paolo Zucchetti, consists of 4 factories and a logistics centre covering a total of <st1:metricconverter productid="72,000 square metres" st="on">72,000 square metres</st1:metricconverter>, employing 400 people and producing 2 million articles every year.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">The basic values of Zucchetti have always been innovation, design, and quality: the essential cornerstones that have guided the firm throughout its history. After an early 'experimental' phase manufacturing industrial valves and fittings, in 1950 the factory was converted to produce fully chromed tapware. In the early 1950s the firm brought in Alfredo's son Mario, an enlightened entrepreneur who went on to lead the company for nearly fifty years. Mario undertook a major expansion of the production, technological and commercial facilities, and completed the large new headquarters at Gozzano (in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">province</st1:placetype> of<st1:placename st="on">Novara</st1:placename></st1:place>) which he equipped with advanced manufacturing facilities. Under Mario's direction the Zucchetti brand exhibited at all the most important international trade fairs. During the post-1945 reconstruction period, Mario conquered foreign markets by opening the first Zucchetti export office in<st1:city st="on">Milan</st1:city>, and then in 1958 came the first significant overseas contracts; <st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> became important new markets for the firm.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span">In 1970 was founded the second company of the Group, Zucchetti Mario S.p.A., specialized in hot forging of brass and other metal alloys. While Omez S.p.A. dedicated to molding of plastics, was established in 1983.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">These were the seventies when the company begins its journey through the world of design. Mario Zucchetti, president of the new Zucchetti SpA, strongly believed in the importance of the design image of any product, as a synthesis of innovative technical and aesthetic values expressed through the content of the product itself: the assumption of excellence in its formal and substantive qualities.<br />In 1975 Zucchetti entered the world of design with the first Italian-made range of ceramic disks single lever mixers: Zetamix 6000, designed by Studio Nizzoli. This was followed by the Coriandoli range, the Zetamix 3000 single lever mixer range, and in 1989 the Magia range, by Barbieri and Marianelli. With these projects Zucchetti brought innovation to the field of tapware, flooding it with new colours and finishes, and laying the foundations of the design-led path it has followed ever since.<br />In 2000 came the Spin series designed by Raul Barbieri, and Zucchetti began a long-term collaboration with Matteo Thun. Thun's design for the Isy single lever mixer tap, in collaboration with Antonio Rodriguez, was the first in the world to have a hidden cartridge technology, and won all the most important international awards and prizes.<br />In 2003 Zucchetti launched the Aguablu series, by Barbara Sordina, whose unique, elegant forms gave the flowing water a particular shape. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p align="justify">In 2004 Thun and Rodriguez presented their aristocratic, exclusive Bellagio range.<br />In 2005 Ludovica+Roberto Palomba launched two new important tapware collections: Pan, whose gentle, sensual junctions created a perfect match between natural and organic forms, and Soft, an exclusive interplay of reflective surfaces.</p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">“<em>As a design-orientated company we have no interest in fashions or gimmicks</em>” says today's company president Carlo Zucchetti, “<em>but in expressing a system of ethics and behaviour in each project. Design is the unifying factor that holds together all the elements of our complex activity.</em>”</p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">In 2006 Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, and Matteo Thun with Antonio Rodriguez, designed Simply Beautiful and Fully Round, two innovative collections aimed at a wider market segment.<br />In 2007 the eclectic Lebanese architect and designer William Sawaya designed Wosh, a perfect synthesis of complex, pure forms that recall the faceted surfaces of a diamond.</p><p align="justify">It is in 2009 that Zucchetti together for the first time with Kos, which it acquired in 2007, presents Faraway, an entire “world of wellness”: the first comprehensive, all-inclusive bathroom collection for private users, contract installations, and spas, consisting of more than 100 products. The design of Faraway is based on the relationships between rectilinear shapes and rounded corners, and on newly innovative and patented product types that save energy and water. By overturning common preconceptions about the bathroom, Faraway creates a new iconography that gives shape to our dreams, wherever we are in the world.</p><p></p><p></p>“<em>Like my father Mario, I am convinced that industrial design does not just come out of the inspiration of one person. It comes from the interactive understanding of a team of people whose skills and knowledge all contribute to the formulation and implementation of the project" </em>says Elena Zucchetti, CEO and brand manager. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And in fact, the design and production processes for each collection have their own internal complexity, as the project progresses from the designer's first sketches to the industrialisation phase, which Zucchetti's own internal technical team develops by means of feasibility studies, modelling, working drawings, and workshop testing, so that the product can be taken to industrial production. This production design cycle, which culminates in the industrialisation of the finished product, is entirely carried out within Zucchetti's own factories, where major resources have always been invested in updating and upgrading the various production departments, constantly ensuring that the equipment and technology is optimising the processes, the quality of manufacture, and the products, as well as the welfare and safety of the operators. This guarantees that the quality is complete in every aspect; it is certified in accordance with UNI EN ISO 9001 standards and the most important international quality marks.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Zucchetti has always been environmentally conscious in its production processes, and in designing products that use specially designed ways of mixing water and air, to restrict flows and give significant savings in water consumption whilst not detracting in any way from the pleasant experience of a full-bodied water jet. By constantly applying such advanced technologies, Zucchetti is always ahead of the trend, and always ready to address the demands of the international market, in ever more innovative ways.<p></p><p></p>Elena Zucchetti, Zucchetti CEO, adds “<em>We have reached over 80 year in our history of deploying these skills and know-how. We are an active, leading presence in the Italian and international markets today thanks to the strength of these strategies, which keep us always at the leading edge, and because our family has passed down an entrepreneurial outlook that has always been able to anticipate consumer needs, and modify the company structure in flexible ways, keeping it attuned to our strategies as we update them. My grandfather Alfredo, my father Mario with my uncle Luciano, and us today, we have always been company people, closely following every aspect of Zucchetti' s activity. The core </em><em>values our father passed on to us, and which we have adopted in our own approach to the business, are to get the best out of our human capital, and to constantly innovate and upgrade our technologies to ensure the constant high quality of our products, our service, and our support. These are solid foundations, and they enable us to address every type of market, crossing different cultural preferences and expectations, and opening up to the world with the same pioneering attitude and enthusiastic spirit with which our company was born in </em><st1:metricconverter productid="1929.”" st="on"><em>1929</em>.”</st1:metricconverter></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p></p><span>As evidence of Zucchetti's strong interest in expanding into foreign markets, in 2004 the firm opened a subsidiary in Poland, to develop the eastern European markets; then in 2005 another subsidiary was opened in Shanghai to establish a presence in the Asian markets and in 2010, last but not less importante, a new subsidiary was opened in US, to further strengthen the already strong presence on this market.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0