Royal Turin walking tour.
The cradle of the Savoy dynasty, the city was built and developed as a capital for three centuries.
This dynasty has been rulers since 1003. The members of the dynasty were counts of Savoy until 1416 and dukes until 1720. From 1720 to 1861 were kings of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and then, until 1946 – kings of the united kingdom of Italy. The founder of this dynasty is Umberto Belarucchi, who received the county of Savoy, which later became a duchy. His eldest son, Othon, united Savoy and Piedmont through marriage to the daughter of the Macgrave of Turin. Nowadays the title of the head of the dynasty is disputed by several representatives of the family.
On the tour you will be able to see:
Madama Palace – its history begins in the XIII century, when the old city gate was replaced by a fortress. A hundred years later, the fort was enlarged, given a rectangular shape and a courtyard was built. Four corner towers and a covered gallery appeared. Until the end of the XV century the castle belonged to the Acaio family (the youngest branch of the Savoy dynasty). When the Acaio family ceased to exist, members of the Savoy dynasty used it as a guest house. For example, King Charles VIII of France stayed here.
The Royal Theatre – the construction of the first building in Piazza Castello began in 1738 on the orders of Duke Carlo Emanuele III of Savoy. The theatre was built in record time: it was opened two years later. It was a magnificent building with 2500 seats on five tiers. The theatre burned down almost completely in 1936: only the facade remained. The new building was opened in 1973.
The Royal Armoury has one of the richest collections of antique arms and armour. It houses weapons that belonged to the kings of Savoy. Among them is the relic of the royal house – the sword San Maurizio. Medals, coins, seals and precious objects from the collection of Carlo Albert of Savoy will be of interest.
The Royal Palace – for two hundred years this attraction was the main residence of the Savoy dynasty. The modern building was built in the second half at the end of the XVI century on the site of the Bishop’s Palace and the Old Castle.
The Castle of Valentine – the first memory of the palace dates back to the XIII century. It was a well-fortified structure designed to protect it from enemy raids. It owes its name to the relics of St Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, which were kept in the church of St Vitus near the palace (not preserved). The castle owes its present-day appearance to Maria Christina of Bourbon France, who ordered the building to be remodelled.
The Queen’s Villa – It was commissioned by Cardinal Prince Maurice of Savoy in the early 17th century.
Palazzo Carignano – Three hundred metres from the Royal Palace is Palazzo Carignano. It was designed by Gvarino Gvarini for one of the branches of the Savoy dynasty, the Carignano family.
