Castello Arangino is a private historic building that belonged to the family of the same name and is located along the main street of the town. It stands as an interesting example of a medieval castle with a structure very common in 19th and 20th century stately homes. The complex was erected in 1917 by Cavalier Vincenzo Arangino, one of Sardinia’s richest landowners. Given his extensive network of contacts and relationships with the politics, nobility and industry of Cagliari and Sassari, Cavalier Arangino exploited the Castle as a resort for influential personalities on the island. In 1929, he arrived to give hospitality to Prince Umberto of Savoy and his wife Maria Jose of Belgium. The origin of the “Castle”-as it is called by the inhabitants of Aritzo-is surrounded by a legendary aura: it is said, in fact, that during a cold winter, a member of the family needed new wood in order to keep warm. He then decided to burn a wedding chest equipped with a double bottom, inside which he found a large quantity of Spanish coins.
