How do you reach San Salvatore Castle?
Announced by the towering mass of the Mastio tower, San Salvatore Castle can be reached via a romantic cobbled avenue that leads to the imposing North Gate, crosses the village among battlemented walls and shielded towers and, after the charming drawbridge, guides you to the heart of the castle.
The romantic medieval remains of Palazzo Ottaviano and the Palazzo Comitali seem to blend with the gentle slopes of Susegana, softened by thriving vineyards and wrapped in lush woods. Looking out from an immense green terrace, you can enjoy the landscape stretching from the plain all the way to Venice.
The history of San Salvatore Castle
The origins of the Collalto family
The oldest records linked to the history of the Collalto dynasty date back to 958, the year when the King of Italy Berengario issued a diploma granting Rambaldo, the ancestor of the Collalto family, the Montello woods and the Curtis di Lovadina, a vast plain of meadows, pastures and vineyards at the foot of the hills of Treviso.
The founding of the castles of Collalto and San Salvatore, built between the majestic Pre-Alpine ridges and the icy silver ribbon of the river Sacro alla Patria, dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when the illustrious family of Lombard origin ruled the territories of Marca Trevigiana with the title of Counts of Treviso.
Built on the top of a wooded hill to defend the fords, the grand, hieratic strategic stronghold fits skilfully into the surrounding hilly landscape. The balanced synthesis between the untouched green slopes and the solemn grandeur of the ancient architectural complex evokes a fairy-tale scene, suspended in time, which centuries later still awakens fascination and wonder in anyone lucky enough to admire this enchanted place, marked by lush sun-kissed vines, dotted with silver olive trees and studded with majestic centuries-old trees that rival the stone walls, the graceful ravelin gates and the soaring battlemented towers of the impregnable medieval fortress.
One of the largest fortified complexes in Europe, San Salvatore Castle soon reached an area of 30,000 square metres between the citadel dedicated to the court and the village inhabited by peasants and craftsmen.
San Salvatore Castle between art, myth, war and poetry
During the period of stability of the Pax Veneziana and throughout the Renaissance, San Salvatore Castle established itself as a thriving cultural landmark for musicians, painters, writers and poets. Having become a favoured backdrop in the paintings of the renowned artist Cima da Conegliano, the Collalto family castle hosted Monsignor Giovanni Della Casa, who wrote his famous Galateo in this spectacular setting.
And among the ‘woods of trees and foliage’ all around San Salvatore Castle, Gaspara Stampa, a learned poet who lived in the 16th century, sang in her wonderful ‘Rime’ of her tormenting love for Collaltino di Collalto.
Dating back to 1599 is the extraordinary “Torneo della Barriera” held by Count Antonio IV on the occasion of his daughter Matilde’s lavish wedding: an armed spectacle destined to go down in history, which was attended by more than four thousand people.
The Moravian branch of the Collalto family
Between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, the young Rambaldo XIII, just sixteen years old, decided to renounce his comital prerogatives and enter the service of the Emperor of Austria, distinguishing himself in important military campaigns. Thanks to his valour, courage and strategic intelligence, Rambaldo XIII was rewarded with several castles and estates in Moravia.
As proof of the strong bond between the Treviso and Moravian branches of the Collalto family, a family law provided that, should one of the two branches die out, that is, become extinct due to the absence of a male descendant, the other branch would take over.
Palazzo Odoardo
Aspiring to the prestigious position of doge of the Serenissima, Count Odoardo had a sumptuous palace built in the 18th century as a symbol of his prestige and power.
Emperors, princes and nobles of every title and rank, great commanders, talented artists and distinguished prelates chose the Court of the Collaltos and the vast, bright rooms of Palazzo Odoardo as their favoured venue for meetings and decisions, the setting for extraordinary celebrations and events worthy of remembrance.
In 1762, at the age of six, the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave his first Viennese concert at Palazzo Collalto in the Austrian capital.
The First World War
During the battle of Caporetto, fought from 24 October to 17 November 1917, the Royal Army gave way under the impact of the Austro-German advance, retreating about 150 km from the Isonzo front to the Piave line, where it carried out heroic and tenacious resistance.
Targeted by Italian artillery in the subsequent phases of the conflict, the architectural complex was severely damaged. Nevertheless, the Collalto family did not lose heart and began a passionate phase of restoration of the extraordinary historical and artistic heritage of San Salvatore Castle. The restoration work ended in 2003 with the inauguration, by Prince Manfredo, of the new castle, which now aims to return to its former splendour as a splendid setting for unforgettable events.
The elegant Venetian terrazzo floors, fine tapestries and precious Murano glass chandeliers that adorn the banquet halls blend harmoniously with the wonderful open-air spaces, creating an Arabian Nights atmosphere ideal for hosting performances and gala dinners, concerts and fashion shows; and also conferences, meetings and corporate incentives, events, parties, photo shoots and unforgettable weddings. For every event, there is only one watchword: excellence.
The rooms are dedicated to the Prince and Princess, the noble title of the Collalto house of Habsburg origin, which only the head of the family and his wife have been entitled to bear since as far back as 1822.
Conte Collalto winery in Susegana
Since 2007, Isabella Collalto de Croÿ has personally overseen the Conte Collalto winery and, since 2018, San Salvatore Castle as well.
Firstborn daughter of Prince Manfredo and Princess Trinidad of Collalto, Princess Isabella Collalto de Croÿ is heir to the historic and unique tradition of the Collalto dynasty. Since 1110, the noble family has presided over these hills, which over time have become the noble heart of Prosecco, making the most of their fertility, with a special focus on the care and development of vineyards and wine.
The wine excellences of the Collalto winery
The excellence of the wines produced in the thousand-year-old winery, always owned by the Collalto family, is the result of the expert winemaking processes handed down by the illustrious house from generation to generation, combined with the delicate microclimate and the mineral characteristics of the soil in which each grape variety is grown.
At the end of the 19th century, Count Ottaviano Antonio, also known as “the farmer count”, was a member of the board of the Conegliano wine school. Majority shareholder of the first Agrarian Council, the count began construction of the modern winery in Susegana with offices, some accommodation, stables and modern machinery.
Ottaviano, a sparkling wine on the lees, is dedicated precisely to the farmer count, one of the pioneers of Prosecco who, with his foresight and innovative ideas, helped lay the foundations of modern oenology. In fact, Prosecco “sui lieviti” represents the origins of today’s sparkling Prosecco.
“Ottaviano” was born from the idea of reinterpreting, in a modern way, the tradition of the Collalto family, as are the excellent Brut Millesimato, “Isabella”, Charmat lungo, which bears the name of Princess Isabella Collalto de Croÿ, and the Extra-Dry Rosé Spumante “Violette”, produced from Manzoni Moscato grapes, a cross between Raboso Piave and Moscato d’Amburgo, which bears the name of the princess’s daughter.
Grown since 1700 thanks to Count Antonio Rambaldo, Wildbacher, now native to the area, is one of the estate’s most renowned grape varieties. Credit for the production, from the early decades of the 20th century, of the award-winning Incrocio Manzoni varieties goes instead to Prof. Luigi Manzoni.
Wine tourism itineraries
The vast 146-hectare estate, of which 100 hectares are devoted to Prosecco production, is the ideal setting for organising vineyard visits by bike or off-road vehicle. From here, you can enjoy a privileged view of the lush golden hills of Prosecco Superiore DOCG, a Unesco heritage site since 2019.
In the store, visitors can choose to buy, in addition to the wines produced by Conte Collalto, other excellent products such as Gin, Grappa and Amaro: all zero-kilometre products made by the winery.
Collalto Lodge and guided tours
This exciting sensory journey unfolds between the historic cellars and native grape varieties in the heart of the Marca Trevigiana hills, a dreamlike setting where you can discover the estate’s ancient winemaking techniques and take part in wine tastings held in the Wine Room, a location of magical, old-world charm.
The engaging tours that visitors can choose from include:
- The Gourmet Tour, a tour of the winery and the historic barrel room with a tasting of 4 wines, accompanied by a board of delicious local products.
- The Riserve Tour guides visitors to discover the gems of the Collalto winery. Through a visit to the winery and the historic barrel room, visitors will discover where and how the great excellences of the Collalto selection are produced, ending the visit with a tasting of some of the most prestigious wines produced by the winery.
- The Manzoni Crosses Tour takes us to discover the history of the Incroci Manzoni, created by Professor Luigi Manzoni, a professor at the Conegliano Wine School between the 1920s and 1930s, thanks to the contribution of the Collalto Family.
- The Vine to Glass Tour is an immersive experience in the historic Collalto estate. A dive into vineyards, winery and barrel room. A moving tasting journey through nature and history at the foot of the enchanting San Salvatore Castle.
- The Estates Tour is dedicated to the adventurous who wish to board a historic off-road vehicle to admire the vineyards at the foot of San Salvatore Castle. A truly exclusive visit among breathtaking views while tasting the wines of the winery that made history.
The entertainment experiences offered by the winery celebrate the bond between the rhythms of nature and the ancient and noble tradition of wine production.
The next events are scheduled for 7 and 8 October with the Harvest End Festival, when the winery will celebrate the end of the harvest for two evenings with live music, food trucks and, of course, excellent wine!
During the San Martino Chestnut Festival, scheduled for 11 November, wine will join forces with chestnuts for a day devoted to tradition and conviviality.
