PALACE OF VENARIA (REGGIA DI VENARIA REALE)

Back in the 16th century, Savoy prices liked to hunt in the estates that surround the Palace of Venaria, near Turin. The princes would send their hounds chasing after stags in the moorland, which formed the roots of this residence. In fact, 'Venaria' comes from the Latin 'venari,' meaning 'to hunt.' To make this a base for their princely pastime, Duke Carlo Emanuele II commissioned this palace to be built between 1658 and 1679. By the turn of the 18th century, the grand buildings of the Baroque palace and the formal French gardens fell into disuse. They were converted into military barracks during Napoleon's reign and belonged to the Italian military until 1978. The palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, renovated, and opened to the public in 2007. During your visit, check out the permanent display, entitled “Theater of History and Magnificence,” that takes visitors on a 1.2 mile-long walk through the ground floor and the piano nobile (main floor) of the Royal Palace. Walk through the 17th-century Hall of Diana, the Great Gallery, and the solemn Church of St. Hubert. Explore the charming apartments of the Duchess Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours. Browse through Prince Eugene of Savoy’s refined collection of paintings, which now grace the walls of the apartment of Princess Ludovica, the sister of Duke Charles Emmanuel II. The current collection consists of 60 works dating back to the 17th century, including masterpieces by Reni, Albani, Cignani, Van Dyck, Brueghel, and other Flemish and Dutch masters. The permanent exhibition ends with a section titled “Lights and Shadows: Restoration in Progress.” Get an overview of the Palace’s history over the last two centuries here, including the military phase and the subsequent decay. Learn about the ensuing cultural debate on the recovery and the use of the complex, the restoration projects and the rebirth during the late 1990s.

Explore this incredible mansion and its fascinating history at your own pace, as you enjoy priority access to grand staircases, rich tapestries, and a huge armory of historical weapons. Stroll through the passages and admire the works of art collected from around the world in this palace built by the House of Savoy. This museum's Royal Armoury is a key highlight of your visit. At the Armoury, find suits of armor and weapons from the 16th and 17th centuries lining the halls. There is also the Chapel of the Holy Shroud which was only reopened in 2018 after a lengthy restoration, following a fire in 1997. The Royal Library is also worth a visit. A famous self-portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci is among its collection of more than 200,000 books, engravings, and drawings. Palace of Venaria Take a 1.2-mile walk through the Royal Palace's grounds and piano nobile (main floor) to explore the permanent exhibition, "Theater of History and Magnificence." The apartments of Princess Ludovica-the sister of Duke Charles Emmanuel Il-are now home to the refined collection of art from Prince Eugene of Savoy, which graces the walls of the apartment of the Duchess Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours. In addition to Reni, Albani, Cignani, Van Dyck, Brueghel, and other Flemish and Dutch masters, there are 60 works in the current collection dating from the 17th century. In the final section of the permanent exhibition, the Palace's history is outlined, including its military phases and subsequent decay, in "Lights and Shadows: Restoration in Progress."

Enjoy a guided tour of the Palace of Venaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning Baroque architecture.

Visit the Reggia of Venaria, the Royal Gardens and embark in an easy e-bike ride through the Mandria Park to visit the Castle!

The Royal Palace of Venaria, the summer residence of the Savoys modelled on Versailles Sacra di San Michele A forbidding fortified abbey anchored atop a rocky hill, the Sacra di San Michele.

Walk through history by visiting the stunning Royal Palace of Venaria. Visit an extraordinary example of Baroque art and the village that surrounds it.

Starting from the beautiful Palace of Venaria, you will reach an organic blueberry farmstead where you can taste their products