Moos-Schulthaus Castle, Eppan, Italy

Moos-Schulthaus is composed of several residential and farm buildings and combines Castel Moos with the Schulthaus Residence. The history of both, once in separated ownership, dates back to the 13th century. In 1958 the merchant Walther Amonn from Bolzano purchased the castle and had the residence restored. In the course of these works, whitewashed frescoes of the period around 1400 AD were discovered. Since 2013 Castel Moos-Schulthaus is administered by the South Tyrolean Castle Institute.

Today Castel Moos-Schulthaus is located in a rather hidden position above Castel Ganda in Appiano Monte, in the west of the Gleif Church, and is an ideal walking destination. In 1983 a museum dedicated to the Mediaeval culture of living was inaugurated, providing an interesting insight into the life of a bygone era. You can e.g. see a well-preserved Mediaeval kitchen, a Gothic stube and ancient furniture. The museum also displays a collection of paintings of Tyrolean artists of the first half of the 20th century.

One of the peculiarities of the museum are its illustrations. In the fresco “War of cats and mice” of 1410, the mice come out on top. Moreover there are illustrations of hunting scenes and a tree of wonders. Part of the complex is also a church of the 14th century, transformed into a residential building in the 19th century.

User Reviews

Andreas Paul (3 years ago)
You can see very well how the inhabitants used to live here.

Andrea Ravagnin (3 years ago)
Isolated place and of other times. Fabulous and very kind guide. Internal evidence of peasant and castle life. To visit! !!

puppi hase (3 years ago)
Beautiful little castle. Great leadership. Lovely garden. Heavenly peace.

Patrizia Costi (4 years ago)
Purtroppo visto solo dall'esterno. La costruzione è bella, immersa nei vigneti e nei meleti con una vista molto bella sulla valle e le cime delle Dolomiti che spuntano dietro le montagne circostanti.

Kerstin Kuberg (4 years ago)
Wir sind vom Stroblhof aus durch die Weinberge zum Schloß Moos und haben eine exklusiv Führung genossen, sehr kompetent und ausführlich die Dame war klasse. Beeindruckend fanden wir die fantastischen Wandmalereien die von Mäusen und Katzen erzählen aber auch die Geschichte vom Phallusbaum (arbor phalli), den die Damen für sich zu nutzen wußten, wenn die Männer sich im Krieg befanden. Ich sage nur die Macht der Frauen.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Nicola since 1972

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Royal Palace of Naples was one of the four residences near Naples used by the Bourbon Kings during their rule of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1734-1860): the others were the palaces of Caserta, Capodimonte overlooking Naples, and the third Portici, on the slopes of Vesuvius.

Construction on the present building was begun in the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Intended to house the King Philip III of Spain on a visit never fulfilled to this part of his kingdom, instead it initially housed the Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, count of Lemos. By 1616, the facade had been completed, and by 1620, the interior was frescoed by Battistello Caracciolo, Giovanni Balducci, and Belisario Corenzio. The decoration of the Royal Chapel of Assumption was not completed until 1644 by Antonio Picchiatti.

In 1734, with the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples, the palace became the royal residence of the Bourbons. On the occasion of his marriage to Maria Amalia of Saxony in 1738, Francesco De Mura and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro helped remodel the interior. Further modernization took place under Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. In 1768, on the occasion of his marriage to Maria Carolina of Austria, under the direction of Ferdinando Fuga, the great hall was rebuilt and the court theater added. During the second half of the 18th century, a 'new wing' was added, which in 1927 became the Vittorio Emanuele III National Library. By the 18th century, the royal residence was moved to Reggia of Caserta, as that inland town was more defensible from naval assault, as well as more distant from the often-rebellious populace of Naples.

During the Napoleonic occupation the palace was enriched by Joachim Murat and his wife, Caroline Bonaparte, with Neoclassic decorations and furnishings. However, a fire in 1837 damaged many rooms, and required restoration from 1838 to 1858 under the direction of Gaetano Genovese. Further additions of a Party Wing and a Belvedere were made in this period. At the corner of the palace with San Carlo Theatre, a new facade was created that obscured the viceroyal palace of Pedro de Toledo.

In 1922, it was decided to transfer here the contents of the National Library. The transfer of library collections was made by 1925.

The library suffered from bombing during World War II and the subsequent military occupation of the building caused serious damage. Today, the palace and adjacent grounds house the famous Teatro San Carlo, the smaller Teatrino di Corte (recently restored), the Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, a museum, and offices, including those of the regional tourist board.

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