The castle is privately owned by an Italian-French company and has been closed for over 20 years as they await approval for an ambitious restructuring project for the castle. It is NOT open to the public, but I found the website for a local association that works with the property to organize occasional visits. Since this year marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of the marquis that built the villa, there have been several occasions this year when the villa was open as you can see here: http://www.sammezzano.org/iniziative.html
I see they also have a Facebook page - I'd suggest contacting them by email and through their FB page to see what they might be able to do in terms of a visit. Just know ahead of time that in August, lots of people go on vacation and lots of things close down. So don't expect too much in terms of organizing a visit so late and in August - they might not even checking email or the page at all right now. But I'm curious to know if you do get any sort of reply, so do share if that happens!!
Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. The castle is notable for its long association with the British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by succeeding monarchs and it is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish, early 19th-century State Apartments are architecturally significant, described by art historian Hugh Roberts as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste". The castle includes the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered by historian John Robinson to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design. More than five hundred people live and work in Windsor Castle.
Source: cristimoise.net
Source: flickr.com/photos/hoodj1234/5604494042/in/photostream/
Source: sheitoonak.com
Source: flickr.com/photos/white-rhino/3114581022/
Strome Castle is a ruined castle on the shore of Loch Carron in Stromemore, 3.5 miles south-west of the village of Lochcarron, on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. Originally built by the Macdonald Earls of Ross. Later in 1472 the castle was owned by the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh and Alan MacDonald Dubh, 12th Chief of the Clan Cameron was constable on behalf of the MacDonalds of Lochalsh. In 1539 King James V of Scotland granted the castle to the Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry and Hector Munro, chief of the Clan Munro was constable of the castle for the MacDonalds of Glengarry.
Later in 1602 the castle was besieged by Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, chief of the Clan Mackenzie, assisted by their allies the Clan Matheson. After the MacDonalds surrendered it was demolished and blown up. The MacDonnells of Glengarry built a new castle called Invergarry Castle. In 1939 the ruined Strome Castle was presented to the National Trust for Scotland. Today the castle comprises a courtyard and the remains of a square tower.
Source: 500px.com/photo/21934709/strome-castle-ruins-by-gavin-johnson
