Casa Loma
A historic castle in the middle of a metropolitan city is rare, but so sits Casa Loma in Toronto. Originally belonging to Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man who worked in a family run business, the castle was inspired by his travels to Europe. And so began the vision for Casa Loma, which ultimately became known as the “house on the hill” by its previous land owner.
The medieval-inspired castle which began construction in 1911 cost $3.5 million and took 3 years to build. Once complete, the inside was adorned with artwork from Canada and around the world. Complete with battlements and secret passageways, Casa Loma surpassed any other private home in North America. The Pellatt’s eventually went into major debt and were no longer financially stable enough to continue living in Casa Loma, leaving the castle they called home in 1924. Although many offers to buy the castle came about, none pulled through and it remained vacant until 1933 when the city took over the property. Many ideas for the castle’s use were suggested, but none were approved. Eventually, a proposal suggesting the castle become a tourist attraction came along, to which the city of Toronto agreed. After extensive renovations, Casa Loma opened to the public in 1937.
Today, Casa Loma is one of Toronto’s top 10 tourist attractions and hospitality venues. Visitors can enjoy the castle with self-guided tours and have the option of multimedia and brochure tours. From the moment one enters the castle, visitors are brought back to a time and place reminiscent of the past. Elegantly decorated rooms, intricate construction and architecture both inside and out, secret passageways, soaring towers, an 800 foot underground tunnel, and stables make Casa Loma a city attraction like no other. During the months of May through October, visitors also have the opportunity to walk through the castle’s five acres of beautiful gardens. Casa Loma also offers its space for private special occasions and has been a prominent place in hosting several events throughout the year. It’s also been used for several notable film, television and photography shoots.
Posted by Rosanna Bonura
