This is a picture of a great castle in Italy called Rocchetta Mattei. Built in the middle of the 19th century, it was home to Count Cesare Mattei, a self-taught doctor who founded electrohomeopathy, a practice derived from homeopathy. During the Second World War, German troops damaged the interior of the building. When the war was over, the last heir could not sell the building and offered it for free to the municipality of Bologna. They did not accept the donation. In 1959 Primo Stefanelli bought Rocchetta Mattei. He transformed one of the smaller buildings into a cosy hotel with an adjoining restaurant. In 1989 Stefanelli died and the building fell into disrepair. Rocchetta Mattei was closed to the public. In 2006, the creation of Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna announced the takeover of Rocchetta Mattei. They restored it, which eventually led to its reopening to the public on 9 August 2015.
Roman Robroek is a photographer who captures forgotten places around the world. In particular, he is focused on creating stunning pho-tos of abandoned locations, rich with wonder, mystery and unanswered questions... Read more…