Entering This Hidden Rhode Island Castle Will Make You Feel Like You’re In A Fairy Tale
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Jeana
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When thinking of Rhode Island architecture, castles aren’t exactly the first thing that come to mind. Beautiful old colonial homes might be your first thought, closely followed by the amazing Newport mansions. Though there are several beautiful mansions found throughout Newport, some are still relatively overlooked. This stunning historic castle is one that is especially worth discovering.
Though the Newport Mansions are one of the most popular attractions in state, some of the extravagant former summer cottages found in the city still go overlooked. This castle known as the Belcourt of Newport is one of the most impressive of these lesser known Newport destinations.
Constructed between 1891 and 1894, this gorgeous home was designed by Richard Morris Hunt for the American socialite known as Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont.
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Inspiration for the design stems from several different European periods. Some of the most prominent include French Renaissance, German, and Italian designs.
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Belmont eventually married Alva Vanderbilt, who planned extensive renovations to the property. She was responsible for adding more renaissance decor to the house and transformed many of the building's connected stables into extravagant rooms for entertaining visitors.
Though the house stayed in the Belmont family until the 1940s, it eventually fell into a number of different hands. The Tinney Family once owned the property and filled it with many of the ornate and worldly antiques that remain today.
The property is now owned by Rhode Island born Carolyn Rafaelian, the founder of Alex and Ani. Rafaelian is committed to restoring the property to its original state.
Belcourt Castle is located at 657 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, but is closed to the public during its extensive renovations.
To discover more on the history and current restoration project of the Belcourt of Newport, visit www.belcourt.com.
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