PALAZZO REALE

It is the first and most important royal residence of the House of Savoy. The palace, as it appears today, was built on the initiative of Marie-Christine of France in 1646, because it had been badly damaged by the siege of the city in 1640. The work rehabilitated a first structure of 1559, wanted by Emmanuel-Philibert when he transferred the capital of the Duchy of Savoy from Chambéry to Turin. This palace was the most important royal residence until 1865, when Victor-Emmanuel II moved the capital of the kingdom of Italy temporarily to Florence, and then definitively to Rome. The interior decoration illustrates the evolution of the taste of the Savoy family from the 15th to the 19th century. From the seventeenth century onwards, it was customary for the palace to be refreshed on the occasion of each royal wedding. Trompe-l'oeil frescoes, gilding (the masterly work of Piedmontese craftsmen), painted ceilings, a collection of clocks, the throne room, of course, and a precious "Chinese cabinet" designed by Filippo Juvarra are the highlights of the palace. Also not to be missed is the Caffè Reale, a delightfully baroque tea room, in tune with the entire palace, where it is essential to stop and sip a bicerin or a hot chocolate as if you were still at court. The Palazzo Reale adjoins the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, a majestic setting designed for the "treasure" brought back from Chambéry when the capital was transferred. The work lasted twenty-two years, from 1668 to 1690, and the precious relic was installed in 1694. The chapel suffered a fire twenty-five years ago, in 1997. The chapel has been restored to its original splendor and the Holy Shroud is now protected by an entire system to keep it safe from fire or damage, and is only shown on rare occasions. Behind the Palazzo Reale, the Giardini Reali occupy a huge area of 10 hectares. They were built on the ancient fortifications. They were designed by André Le Nôtre, the famous architect of the gardens of Versailles. Rich in statues, flowerbeds and fountains, you can go there freely at any time of the day, before and after visits, to take a break... The Royal Gardens are divided into several parts (lower and upper gardens), and the upper part is composed of several gardens including the spectacular Garden of the Arts, with the fountain of the Nereids and Tritons, the Duke's Garden or the Boschetto.