Castello Sarriod de La Tour in Italy's Aosta Valley features unique medieval Sala delle Teste

The Castello Sarriod de La Tour, perched on a rocky spur above the Dora Baltea near Saint‑Pierre in Italy’s Aosta Valley, originated between the 11th and 12th centuries as a fortified donjon with a surrounding wall and chapel. Over nine centuries the Sarriod family expanded the complex, adding residential wings, defensive towers and a distinctive spiral staircase. In the 15th century, Jean Sarriod and his son Antoine reshaped the castle, introducing elegant stone windows and commissioning frescoes that still survive.

The castle’s most celebrated feature is the Sala delle Teste on the first floor of the northern wing. Its vaulted ceiling is covered with hundreds of sculpted heads depicting nobles, mythical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, sirens, and grotesque figures, a decorative program that has drawn visitors for nearly six centuries. After passing to the Bensa family and then to the Aosta Valley regional authority in 1970, the castle was restored and opened to the public in 2018, showcasing the Sala delle Teste alongside original furnishings and later acquisitions.