CASTEL SAVOIA

Always in love with Gressoney and its valley, where she could make mountain excursions and rest, the Italian queen Marguerite of Savoy decided to build her summer residence in 1894 in the middle of nature, on the heights of the village. The castle will be finished in 1904, after 5 years of works directed by the architect Emilio Stramucci. In the middle of the fir trees, surrounded by a botanical garden, a neo-gothic manor house - with its five turrets - appears to the visitor. A veranda offers a splendid view of the surroundings. Inside, everything is in honour of its famous owner. The decoration, created by a young painter and restorer, Carlo Cussetti, combines medieval and baroque elements. An abundance of ornamental paintings, depicting heraldic motifs of the House of Savoy and white daisies, complete the coffered ceilings and woodwork. The eclectic style furniture comes from other family properties, except for a few original custom-made pieces engraved by Michele Dellera from Turin. Upstairs, the queen's bedroom still offers a remarkable view of the Monte Rosa massif and the valley. In spring and summer, the rock garden, rich in botanical species of Alpine flora, can also be visited. For 25 years, Queen Margherita stayed here regularly, before the castle was sold to the Moretti family, a wealthy Milanese industrial family. It was then bought by the autonomous region of the Aosta Valley in 1981.