Castle on the Hill (Julius Castle on Telegraph
Hill)
by: Nate Soule
When you think of castles, such places as Windsor, Sterling, and London
come to mind. One might not expect that San Francisco, California should
be added to this list. Julius castle on beautiful Telegraph Hill
is a little known secret; a treasure hidden away at the end of
a secluded San Franciscan lane.
This castle was never used to defend a city. No King or Queen ever
ruled from a throne here. However, a feast fit for royalty is prepared
every night within this modern fortress. Looking out on the water from
the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge and beyond, Julius Castle provides
one of the most amazing views in the city. If the food were not quite
so delicious you could easily find yourself lost in a trance staring
out at the rolling hills, slow moving ferries, and untouched islands.
Built to resemble a castle using Redwood trees, and maples from the
Pan Pacific Expedition, Julius Castle dates back to the 1920’s.
An Italian immigrant Julius Roz envisioned a “castle on the hill”,
and his vision became reality when the doors opened in 1922. Patrons
of the castle have watched the scenery outside its windows slowly change
since then as the Bay Bridge began construction in 1933, and Treasure
Island was literally built from the earth at the bottom of the bay for
the 1939 World’s Fair.
In 1947 the film “Dark Passage” displayed the castle’s
neighborhood for the world to see as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall
sought to help the falsely accused character Vincent Parry evade police,
former friends, and small time crooks. The movie’s setting takes
place only feet from where the castle stands and to this day a cut-out
of Bogart watches diners as they approach the entrance.
If you find that you have enjoyed too much of the fine food and wine
within the castle you may seek some after dinner activity by either
venturing further up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower, or down the hill
via the Filbert Stairs. Located at the very peak of the hill Coit Tower
overlooks the city both from its base, and even more spectacularly from
the tip of its tower, another 63 meters high. The tower, which was built
in 1933 with funds donated by Little Hitchcook Coit, offers more than
just the scenic views outside. Painted murals adorn the interior of
the structure depicting scenes from California during the great depression
and other historic periods.
If climbing the hills of San Francisco has quickly lost its charm then
traveling in the opposite direction down the Filbert Stairs may be a
good choice. These stairs wind down to Sansome Street, right off of
the famous Embarcadero through pristinely kept gardens and beautiful
homes. As you marvel at the views on your 377 step journey down the
hill make sure and appreciate that you are taking the only means of
arriving at the 19th century cottages you pass, as there is no road
access! Once you reach the bottom you are a short walk to the San Francisco
ferry building, or Fisherman’s Wharf.
As you go off to explore these other exciting attractions, try not
to forget that you just dined at a world class castle, right in the
middle of modern California.
About The Author - Nate Soule is a travel enthusiast
and helps maintain the travel website AcrossDistance.com (http://www.acrossdistance.com).
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