ROYAL PALACE

The Royal Palace of Turin is undoubtedly the first and most important of the Savoia residences in Piedmont, which for three centuries was the symbol of the dynasty's power as well as the centre of court life.

The palace, which was originally an Episcopal residence, was designed by Ascanio Vittozzi between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century and then entrusted to Amadeo di Castellamonte. The latter rebuilt several rooms at the behest of Madama Reale Maria Cristina di Borbone after the destruction caused by the siege of 1640.

The palace's true golden age began at the end of the reconstruction, around 1656, when the splendour and luxury made the royal residence famous. Despite the interlude of the austere reign of Vittorio Amedeo II, luxury returned to the court in 1722 on the occasion of the marriage of Carlo Emanuele, heir to the throne.

There were many renovations and refurbishments required for weddings, all entrusted to famous architects such as Juvarra, Alfieri, Randoni and Piacenza. Towards the end of the 18th century, however, the palace experienced a slow decline, first due to the Napoleonic occupation, which drove the court out of the palace, and then, after the unification of Italy, the Savoia family moved to the Pitti Palace in Florence, relegating the Palazzo Reale to occasional residence. After the fall of the monarchy in 1946, the palace was almost completely abandoned, only to be reopened to the public in 2007.

If the exteriors denote great balance and austerity, the interiors are astonishing for their magnificence and richness, and many artists and craftsmen contributed over the years: Beaumont, Piffetti, Van Loo, Morgari and many others.

Worthy of note are also the Royal Gardens designed by the famous André Le Nôtre, already active at the court of Versailles, and whose work was continued by De Marne who, following the projects of his predecessor, brought the gardens to their true splendour. The Royal Palace of Turin has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

 

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