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A Roman fort, built to defend Italy from the barbarians coming from across the Alps.

Centuries later, in the Middle Ages, a monastery inhabited by Benedictine nuns, some meditating peacefully on God and others enjoying the sinful pleasures of the flesh

Again, centuries later, a humble farm, forgotten in a region no more at the centre of history

And yer again, in our times, a museum and a gourmet restaurant.

Welcome to Torba, where each time of history has left its layer of dust and memories.

The original tower was built by the Romans, and its foundations can still be seen at the base of the building. It was reinforced by the Goths and later raised by Langobards. After its military use was abandoned, the nuns maintained it the structure in a good way, even locating their chapel in one of the floors. The farmers, though, did little to preserve this monument of the past. Only in the 20th century was it restored by the initiative of FAI, the Italian Environment Fund.