Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights - the Wedding Cake Castle

Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights is a historic landmark in Arizona. One of the most popular things to do is to take a tour of the castle, which offers a unique perspective on the history of the area. Visitors can also explore the surrounding grounds which are home to over 5000 cactus plants of over 100 different varieties. Tovrea Castle is also a popular venue for weddings and other special events.

The castle is located on a hill overlooking the city of Phoenix. It is lit at night with LED bulbs distributed along its roofs and fences. From a distance, this appears to give an impression of a romanticized medieval castle despite lacking any of those characteristics.

The castle is made of granite, pinewood and stucco in a four-tiered fashion that resembles strongly to a wedding cake. It has romanticized European architectural influences which include parapets surronding the roofline of each tier, and Art Deco in its interior and exterior light fixtures.

Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights was built between 1928 and 1930 and intended to be part of a resort complex. Soon after its completion, it was bought by E.A. and Della Tovrea in 1931 to use as a private residence. The name of the castle- Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights is reflected to honour its original builder Alessio Carraro and its second owner E. A. and Della Tovrea.

The castle is now part of the Phoenix Parks System and is one of the designated Phoenix Points of Pride. The castle was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

In 2006, significant work was carried out on the castle and its gardens to restore the castle to its previous state and to open it to the public. The works were completed in 2012 and the castle was finally opened to the public. It is managed by the Tovrea Carraro Society, a non-profit organization formed to operate the site in partnership with the City of Phoenix.

The best time to visit Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights is in the spring. The castle is located in the desert, so the weather is warm but not too hot. The flowers are in bloom, and the cacti are starting to grow. The views from the top of the castle are stunning, and you can see for miles.

1. Purchase your tickets in advance. While same-day tickets are sometimes available, they often sell out well in advance. Interested visitors should enrol on a lottery ticket system to have a chance to purchase tickets.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. The castle is surrounded by cacti and there is a lot of walking involved, so comfortable shoes are a must.
3. Be prepared for hot weather as there is little shade at the castle.

1. Locally, Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights is known as the "Wedding Cake Castle" due to its shape.
2. The castle is one of the most prominent landmarks of Phoenix city and is highly visible from the surrounding areas.
3. A common legend in the local area is that the castle was built by E. A. Tovrea for his wife as a duplication of their wedding cake which is wrong. The castle was actually built by Alessio Carraro and was purchased by  E. A. Tovrea.

The average time spent touring the grounds is 2 hours. During the tour, visitors will learn about the history of the castle and its owner, and walk around the cactus gardens. They will also get to see the inside of the main building, which has been restored to its original grandeur.

Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights is located close to the Phoenix city centre. From the city centre, it is only a 10-kilometer, 15-minute drive to the castle. Some buses also go to the castle area from the city centre.

It costs USD 22 to enter Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights. However, due to overwhelming demand, the ticket can be purchased only through a lottery ticket system that visitors should enrol. You can get more details from their website.

In addition to individual tickets, there are also group tickets available for which the price depends on the type of tour and the number of visitors.

The castle has an odd opening hours structure. On Thursdays, it is open from 9 AM to 12 PM. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays it is open from  7.30 AM to 12.30 PM and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

Even during the days, it is open, the entry is strict for the ticket holders and tours are conducted at limited intervals.