Facade of the Castle © Direzione Regionale per i beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Piemonte (foto A.Longo)
Castle of Racconigi, Main entrance
© Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Piemonte (foto P.Robino)
Royal Palace of Turin, Main facade
© Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Piemonte (foto P.Robino)
Castle of Agliè
© Venaria Reale
Venaria Reale, Aerial view
© Direzione Regionale per i beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Piemonte (foto A.Longo)
Castle of Racconigi, Margaria
Direzione regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Piemonte (foto P.Robino)
Villa della Regina, Aerial view
© Venaria Reale
Venaria Reale
© Venaria Reale
Venaria Reale, The Great Gallery
© Venaria Reale
Venaria Reale, Sant' Uberto Chapel
When Emmanuel-Philibert, Duke of Savoy, moved his capital to Turin in 1562, he began a vast series of building projects (continued by his successors) to demonstrate the power of the ruling house. This outstanding complex of buildings, designed and embellished by the leading architects and artists of the time, radiates out into the surrounding countryside from the Royal Palace in the 'Command Area' of Turin to include many country residences and hunting lodges.
Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali Direzione Regionale per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici del Piemonte
Piazza San Giovanni 2
10121 Turin
Email:
Website:
www.residenzereali.it
Tel: 0080011133300
For the 28th edition of the European Heritage Days, the Castello Ducale di Agliè, the Castello e Parco di Racconigi and the Palazzo Reale di Torino are organizing several events destinated to the public. The theme of this year 2011 is: “Italy, treasure of Europe”. Let’s discover what they prepared here.
The centre of power
The hub of the Court and of political power, the Royal Palace, and the surrounding buildings, formed the command centre and the main place for representing all the majesty of the House of Savoy.
With a history going back seven centuries, involving dukes, princes and kings, the Castle of Agliè, formerly belonging to the marquises of San Martino, has an ancient and noble past, as can be seen by the variety of decor that still features in apartments and gardens.
Built in the mid-1600s as a hunting lodge for Charles Emmanuel II, it was designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte who made the central Hall of Diana an ideal junction point between the palazzo and the gardens.
After careful restoration, the Villa of the Queen has been reopened to the public. Acting as a dramatic backdrop to the city, it is in the centre of Italianate gardens with pavilions, fountains and agricultural areas once again in production. Begun as the royal hillside vineyard of cardinal Maurice and the princess Ludovica, it was the delitiosa residence of duchesses, princesses and queens of the House of Savoy up until the 19th century.
