<strong>Real life fairytale: </strong>Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta, pictured, grew up in beautiful Castle Sannazzaro in northern Italy.
Real life fairytale: Ludovica Sannazzaro Natta, pictured, grew up in beautiful Castle Sannazzaro in northern Italy.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Family legacy:</strong> The castle, which is nearly 900 years old, has been in Sannazzaro Natta's family for 28 generations.
Family legacy: The castle, which is nearly 900 years old, has been in Sannazzaro Natta's family for 28 generations.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Moving in</strong>: Sannazzaro Natta's father inherited the castle and moved his family there full time in 2006. The family didn't do much renovation, but spent a lot of time cleaning and sorting through furniture and heirlooms.
Moving in: Sannazzaro Natta's father inherited the castle and moved his family there full time in 2006. The family didn't do much renovation, but spent a lot of time cleaning and sorting through furniture and heirlooms.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Childhood perspective:</strong> "When I moved here, it was just so normal for me," Sannazzaro Natta tells <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcnn.com%2Ftravel" target="_blank">CNN Travel</a> today. "It was just my home and where I was going to live for the rest of my life." Here's the family crest on the floor of one of the castle's many rooms.
Childhood perspective: "When I moved here, it was just so normal for me," Sannazzaro Natta tells CNN Travel today. "It was just my home and where I was going to live for the rest of my life." Here's the family crest on the floor of one of the castle's many rooms.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Creative place: </strong>The castle, says Sannazzaro Nata, was a "very creative" place to spend her formative years. She loved fantasy novels and movies and enjoyed recreating her own versions of beloved stories in her castle.
Creative place: The castle, says Sannazzaro Nata, was a "very creative" place to spend her formative years. She loved fantasy novels and movies and enjoyed recreating her own versions of beloved stories in her castle.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Back at the castle:</strong> Sannazzaro Nata moved to the US after high school to study musical theater. But when the pandemic hit, she found herself back at the castle with time to spare.
Back at the castle: Sannazzaro Nata moved to the US after high school to study musical theater. But when the pandemic hit, she found herself back at the castle with time to spare.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Newfound appreciation:</strong> Sannazzaro Nata found herself looking at her family home with new eyes. "I was like, 'Oh, I just love this place. Sometimes I don't appreciate it as much as I should. Probably because it's my home. And it's so normal for me. But I truly, truly love this place.'"
Newfound appreciation: Sannazzaro Nata found herself looking at her family home with new eyes. "I was like, 'Oh, I just love this place. Sometimes I don't appreciate it as much as I should. Probably because it's my home. And it's so normal for me. But I truly, truly love this place.'"
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Social media:</strong> Around this time, Sannazzaro Natta decided to start chronicling life in the castle on social media. She posts videos on <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thecastlediary" target="_blank" target="_blank">TikTok</a> and <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fthecastlediary%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Instagram</a> summing up what life's really like in a medieval castle.
Social media: Around this time, Sannazzaro Natta decided to start chronicling life in the castle on social media. She posts videos on TikTok and Instagram summing up what life's really like in a medieval castle.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Vacation rental</strong>: Sannazzaro Natta still lives in her family home, part of which is also available to <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.castellosannazzaro.it%2Fen%2Fospitalita%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">rent as a vacation rental</a>. Sannazzaro Natta says ultimate goal is to "share the atmosphere of this beautiful place" with everyone she can -- whether via social media or in person.
Vacation rental: Sannazzaro Natta still lives in her family home, part of which is also available to rent as a vacation rental. Sannazzaro Natta says ultimate goal is to "share the atmosphere of this beautiful place" with everyone she can -- whether via social media or in person.
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta
<strong>Sharing her story: </strong>"I have something so unique and special that I want to share with people," says Sannazzaro Nata. "Because I don't think that a lot of people know about this reality. They don't even think that it exists unless it's in movies."
Sharing her story: "I have something so unique and special that I want to share with people," says Sannazzaro Nata. "Because I don't think that a lot of people know about this reality. They don't even think that it exists unless it's in movies."
Ludovica Uberta Sannazzaro Natta