Travel

Palazzino Fraccaroli – Exploring The Spooky Castle Of Spirits

By Katie Mac
February 11, 2020
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Looking for an easy day trip this weekend? Palazzino Fraccaroli, or the Castle of Spirits, is a unique spot that makes for a nice outing on its own, or can easily be combined with other adventures in the area. It’s also a great location for photos that are different from the usual vineyard or city backdrop. Here’s a guide with what you need to know about planning a visit.

Palazzino Fraccaroli – Exploring The Spooky Castle Of Spirits

Disclaimer

There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.

FAQ for visiting the Castle of Spirits

Where is it located?

Piovene Rocchette, about 30 minutes from Ederle.

How long do you need there?

30 minutes, and however long you want to take a few photos.

Is there a cost?

No, it’s free.

Is there parking?

Street parking is available.

What is it good for?

A unique photoshoot location or short outing.

What should you bring with you?

Camera (The Sony Alpha a6000 is my favorite for travel and I got some of my photos on a GoPro with this compact selfie stick and tripod combo).
Sturdy closed in shoes if you plan to walk inside the house.

Outside view of Palazzino Fraccaroli

What’s the story with the Castle of Spirits in Vicenza

In 1853, a nobleman, Fraccaroli, commissioned architect Antonio Caregaro Negrin to build this elaborate, three-floor palace.

The work was never completed. Though the reason why the palace was never finished is not known for sure, some theories are that the work was abandoned because of the plague or work commitments in other regions.

The abandoned building got the nickname ‘Castle of Spirits’ and still stands unfinished.

How to get to Palazzino Fraccaroli

Use ‘Palazzino Fraccaroli’ in Google Maps and it will take you directly there. You can see it from the road, so it’s not difficult to find at all.

There is street parking available so then it is just a matter of finding a spot and walking to the Castle of spirits.

Once you are outside, look for the gate which is to the left when you are facing the house. There is also a sign with information on it in Italian.

If you have the Google Translate app, you can use the camera function to quickly translate the sign. I have a guide here on how to do that.

From there, just go through the gate and walk up to the house.

This is the gate to enter

Safety tips

It’s easy to have a safe visit here as long as you have common sense.

Be careful if you are on any ledges or windows as there is a bit of a drop from them. There are thorns on some of the plants growing on them, so keep an eye out for those.

I also recommend wearing sneakers or some other good closed in shoes as some of the rubble on the ground can be a little sharp.

As always, check the weather and use your best judgment.