Miramare Castle is a 19th-century castle on the Gulf of Trieste in northeastern Italy. It was built from 1856 to 1860 for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, based on a design by Carl Junker. All the rooms still feature the original furnishings, ornaments, furniture and objects dating back to the middle of the 19th century. The archduke wanted a residence befitting his rank. It also had to meet or surpass any expectations held by his wife. The castle's grounds still have an extensive cliff and seashore park of 22 hectares (54 acres) designed by the archduke.

Maximilian closely supervised the construction of the castle and the park. He and Charlotte moved in to the ground floor well before its completion. This couple however did not live long and happy. Maximilian was taken prisoner in Querétaro, Mexico by Benito Juarez, national hero and president of Mexico in May 1867. At the young age of 34, Maximilian was shot by order of Juàrez. Charlotte went insane after Maximilian’s death. She spent the rest of her days in seclusion; she was deeply in love with her husband's memory and hung on to the possessions that they shared at Miramare Castle.

From the couple's tragic story, a legend was born. The legend says that Castello di Miramare is cursed. Anyone who sleeps in the castle is fated to die a violent death at a young age and in a foreign land.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org