In & around Torino Palaces, Castles and Forts 2008 /2009 A land of dames and knights. www.turismotorino.org Torino Piazza Castello/via Garibaldi Stazione ferroviaria di Porta Nuova Aeroporto internazionale di Caselle ph. +39.011.535181 [email protected] Avigliana Pinerolo Piazza del Popolo 2 Viale Giolitti 7/9 Cell. +39.334.6034334 ph. +39.0121.795589 [email protected] [email protected] Bardonecchia Pragelato Piazza De Gasperi 1 Piazza Lantelme ph. +39.0122.99032 ph. +39.0122.741728 [email protected] [email protected] Cesana Torinese Sauze d’Oulx Piazza Vittorio Amedeo 3 Viale Genevris 7 ph. +39.0122.89202 ph. +39.0122.858009 [email protected] [email protected] Clavière Sestriere Via Nazionale 30 Via Louset ph. +39.0122.878856 ph. +39.0122.755444 [email protected] [email protected] Fenestrelle Susa Piazza della Fiera 1 Corso Inghilterra 39 ph. +39.0121.83617 ph. +39.0122.622447 [email protected] [email protected] *(closed on Wednesday) Torre Pellice Ivrea Via Repubblica 3 Corso Vercelli 1 ph. +39.0121.91875 ph. +39.0125.618131 [email protected] [email protected] Venaria Reale Lanzo Torinese Via Andrea Mensa 34 Via Umberto I 9 ph. +39.011.4992326 ph. +39.0123.28080 [email protected] [email protected] *(closed on the same days as the Palace) How to read the guide. Royal Residences Ë Accessible Snack point Bookshop Guided tours For groups only Hours Closing day E Admittance Fee E Free Opening hours may vary: for updated information call the toll free number 800 329 329 (00 800 111 333 00 from abroad) every day from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm. References A4 Motorways Highways Regional throughroutes, other roads 232 E 70 Number of national and European roads Railways with stations and tunnels Colle del Monginevro Gap, height in metres 1854 6 State frontiers, regional and provincial boundaries 8 Natural parks and reservation area 13 International airport 5 Sandro Pertini of Torino Caselle 11 3 7 9 2 16 19 1 18 15 14 20 12 17 4 To reach Torino da Milano: 140 km da Genève: 247 km da Genova: 170 km da Lyon: 314 km da Venezia: 400 km da Paris: 780 km da Firenze: 395 km da Barcelona: 877 km da Bologna: 330 km da München: 613 km 10 da Roma: 675 km da Wien: 1024 km da Napoli: 885 km da Amsterdam:1159 km To move throughout the territory from Torino Avigliana: 28 km Oulx: 79 km Bardonecchia: 92 km Pinerolo: 41 km Caselle Torinese: 16 km Pragelato: 111 km Cesana Torinese: 89 km Sauze d’Oulx: 87 km Claviere: 95 km Sestriere: 100 km Scale Fenestrelle: 74 km Susa: 56 km Ivrea: 52 km Torre Pellice: 54 km 0 5 10 15 km 20 Lanzo Torinese: 34 km Venaria Reale: 15 km In & around Torino Palaces, Castles and Forts These possessions – central in the city landscape, but also spread out all over the surrounding areas – used to The imposing ramparts provide be exclusive recreational locations for important proof of a historical hunting and holidays. Perfectly kept, stratification of military architecture they tell of centuries of warrior dukes which goes from the early Middle Ages and beauty-loving kings, of refined to the Second World War and boast very dames who loved ballet and theatre, skilled architectural work, both from a of princely ceremonies and parties, structural and from a purely aesthetic of labyrinths and fountains about point of view. which tales were told all over Europe. The pages of this small guide present the A court capable of keeping itself most enchanting palaces, castles and amused, but also of protecting itself, fortresses in the area, brought to life in to such an extent that the soil of the every season of the year by performances, Western Alps, which was for a long events and exhibitions. For you to time the object of an intense activity start travelling with your imagination, of fortification aimed at blocking the planning your visit through time amidst passage of the armies through the heroism and nobility. Once upon a time there was a valleys, reveals a military presence marvellous territory dotted with Here every frieze speaks of art and without equals in the alpine area. magnificent palaces, enchanting every tower documents a past which castles, imposing fortresses… and is rich in history: visiting these it still exists: in & around Torino, precious castles, one relives heroic immersed in the beautiful setting of deeds, political events and legends the Savoy province. Dominating the in a journey across time and space, hills, the plain or the mountains, from the rigour of the Middle Ages to isolated within the greenery of the magnificence of the Savoys. parks and gardens, or wrapped in The old dynasty, who reigned over the warmth of their villages, castles Piemonte for almost a thousand are among the most exciting pages years, has left us with possessions to read the book of these beautiful of inestimable value: among these places and interpret their spirit. the Royal Residences shine in all their splendour. They are an inheritance of extraordinary cultural and environmental interest, declared “World Heritage” by UNESCO in 1997. 2 3 Appartamenti realiReali Castello Biandratebiandrate di Borgo Castellocastello di Foglizzo Borgo Castello is located in the Foglizzo is one of the oldest small from his marriage with Isabella vast La Mandria Regional Park: it is “Bela Rosin” – who was never much villages in the Canavese area del Monferrato. In 1631, with the a historical as well as naturalistic appreciated by the government and Via Curis, which led to Gaul Cherasco treaty, it became part of estate and its peculiarity lies in the and the court. A privat atmosphere (present-day France), used to go Vittorio Amedeo I’s Savoy territory. fact that it is the largest planitial dominates: in order to keep through here. According to tradition In 1885 a royal decree authorized wood in the Pianura Padana, “intruders” away, long “boundary San Carlo Borromeo himself stayed the town to purchase the Castle, inhabited by much game. The rooms walls” were erected and are, to this in Foglizzo when he travelled to located in a beautiful elevated of the apartment on the first floor day, the clear sign of the presence Torino to worship the Holy Shroud. position, where the town hall now – more intimate and ordinary than of the estate. The king’s house was From the 12th century it belonged is. The Biandrate family became the official residences, but richly a faithful reflection of his open, free to the counts of Biandrate thanks extinct in 1958, when the last furnished according to bourgeois and self-assured personality. to Guido the Great, commanding taste of the time – hosted Vittorio officer of Federico Barabarossa’s countess Maria Luisa died in Torino. Emanuele II from August 17, 1859 troupes, who received it as a dowry with his two sons and his morganatic Appartamenti Reali di Borgo Castello Castello Biandrate di Foglizzo wife Rosa Vercellana – known as Viale Carlo Emanuele II 256 Via Castello 6 - Foglizzo La Mandria Regional Park - Venaria Reale ph. +39 011 9883404 ph. +39 011 4993381 [email protected] Ë [email protected] www.comune.foglizzo.to.it www.parcomandria.it How to get there: How to get there: A5 Torino-Aosta, A55 Torino beltway, exit Venaria exit San Giorgio C.se or Volpiano; A4 Milano-Torino, exit Chivasso Mar-Oct, Mon-Sun: 10.30 am-3.30 pm; Apr-Sept, Mon-Sun: 10.30 am-5.30 pm; reservation required Wednesday and Thursday E Upon reservation E Abbonamento Musei E 4 5 Castello Biandrate Castello Cavour di San Giorgio di Santena Both the village and the castle once Santena – a town renowned for its belonged to the powerful Biandrate However, the most important production of much appreciated is in no way military, but was one of family from Novara: in fact it seems transformations took place in 1726, asparagus – is known especially for those projects aimed at providing the that the village was named after on the occasion of the marriage having been the home town of the pure pleasure of comfort. these counts who had the image of between the “marchese” Ferdinando noble Benso family. This is where The bedroom with furniture and San Giorgio on their coat of arms. di San Giorgio and the “marchesa” Castello Cavour can be found, a work relics from the Torino palace, where Up until the 20th century the castle Vilcardel de Fleury. From the broad by the architect Francesco Gallo, Camillo Benso died on June 6, 1861, complex was made up of two buidings: central ballroom, with its square plan by order of the count Carlo Ottavio is on the second floor. The Benso Castel Vecchio, from the 12th century of 12 metres per side, one reaches the Benso di Cavour and built between di Cavour family’s funerary chapel is and Castel Nuovo, built between the rooms that make up four apartments. 1712 and 1720 on the ruins of an in the park. This is where the great 13th and 14th centuries. The former old castle. The building, which was statesman – one of the main authors was almost completely demolished in renovated in the 19th century by of the unification of Italy – was the 19th century and replaced by an Giuseppina, Camillo’s favourite niece, Castello Biandrate di San Giorgio buried two days after his death. English-style garden; the latter, which Via Biandrate - San Giorgio Canavese is now the big seigneurial residence, ph.