Sprawling on six acres of beautifully manicured grounds and gardens is Casa Loma, which in the Spanish language means, "a house on the hill". Built in the early 1900s, Sir Henry Pellatt and his wife fulfilled their lifelong dream of living in a European style castle, copying styles of Norman, Gothic, and Roman to create their dream house in the middle of the City of Toronto. To complete Casa Loma, it took 300 men over a period of two and a half years and a total cost of $3.5 million.

Visitors of the castle will enter into a world of majestic charm and splendor, starting at the Great Hall with its oak-beamed ceiling. The highlights of the 98-room mansion are the conservatory, which features a magnificent stained glass dome, and the library, which is paneled in oak with unique intricate carvings. For breathtaking views of the city, visitors can climb the turreted towers. Connected to the castle by an 800-foot tunnel, are luxurious carriages and stables. Secret passages are for exploring throughout the castle.

Casa Loma plays host to various special events throughout the year, including private wedding rentals, Christmas and Halloween celebrations, organists and other entertainers. Roughly 400,000 tourists visit the castle annually. Self-guided tours are conducted in English, French, German, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and Spanish. Garden tours are offered daily at 2:00 p.m. during the summer months. There’s a café and gift shop on-site as well.

To get here: head south on Allen Expressway to Eglinton Avenue west. Turn east on Eglinton to Spadina. Turn right on spadina until you reach the castle. Paid parking available on the premises.