Castello della Sala, a magnificent medieval manor with 600 hectares (1482 acres) of land 200 (495 acres) of which are planted with vineyards, is located halfway between the Paglia river and the summit of Monte Nibbio.
History
Castello della Sala was built in 1350 by Angelo Monaldeschi della Vipera whose family arrived in Italy in the IX century following Charlemagne’s troops.
The 1300’s marked the beginning of a long series of conflicts between family members in order to gain control over Orvieto. In 1437 Gentile, grandson of Angelo dei Monaldeschi della Vipera, gained control of the city and reigned as dictator for over a decade. Following Gentile’s death in 1466, a peaceful period started at the castle, culminating with the reconciliatory marriage of Gentile’s son, Pietro Antonio della Vipera, and his cousin Giovanna Monaldeschi della Cervara. The XVI century introduced a period of serenity: the citizens of Orvieto respected Pietro Antonio. Giovanna della Cervara began restoration work on Castello della Sala and commissioned a fresco in the chapel of the Three Wise Men at the entrance to the castle. The couple also became patrons of the magnificent Duomo of Orvieto and made contributions for the paintings done by Signorelli in the Capella Nuova. Pietro Antonio died in 1516 and following her husband’s wishes Giovanna donated Castello della Sala and its land to the Opera Pia Santa Maria otherwise known as the Duomo of Orvieto.
The castle belonged to the Duomo up until 1860 when the newly unified Italian government seized all church property after which it had a series of private owners. In 1940 Marchese Niccolò Antinori, Piero’s father, bought the estate fully aware of the fact that the area held great potential for producing fine white wines. After years of neglect, Castello della Sala moves towards a period of rebirth.
