If you have chosen Turin as your next weekend destination, we recommend visiting one of the city’s most beautiful attractions: the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale.

This stunning building is not only one of the largest and most important residences of the Savoy family, but one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. During my stay in Turin I chose to visit the Palace of Venaria Reale before everything else. Driven by curiosity after seeing hundreds of photos online, I wanted to see it with my own eyes.

I woke up early in the beautiful Junior Suites of the DUPARC Contemporary Suites, had a tasty breakfast and off I went to explore one of Italy’s greatest jewels and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

A Brief History of the Reggia di Venaria

The Palace of Venaria Reale was a residence of the Savoy family, one of the most important royal families in Europe. It was commissioned in 1658 by Duke Carlo Emanuele II, a great hunting enthusiast, and its construction was entrusted to the architect Amedeo di Castellamonte, who drew inspiration from the magnificent Palace of Versailles. Initially built for the family’s hunting expeditions in an area rich in woods and game, this residence soon became one of the most important for the royal family.

It boasts a floor surface of 80,000 square meters and 50 hectares of gardens! And that’s not all. Citizens wishing to live close to the royal residence starting building in the surrounding area, leading to the birth of the autonomous municipality of Venaria Reale, which today counts more than 30,000 inhabitants and was declared a city by Vittorio Emanuele III in 1937.

In the 1700s, the palace was extended by the architect Filippo Juvarra, one of the greatest exponents of the Baroque style, at the behest of Vittorio Amedeo II, the Duke's son. Juvarra built one of the residence’s best known symbols: the Great Gallery. But not only that. He also designed the Church of Sant'Uberto and the Scuderie Regie, or Royal Stables, which today host numerous exhibitions. In the 1800s, during Napoleon’s rule, the complex was transformed into barracks and most of the gardens were destroyed to build a military training ground. An almost exclusive military use of the residence gradually led to its decline. Ransacked and abandoned, in 1978 it was sold to the Italian National Trust which handled its restoration. It was reopened to the public in 2007, after being restored to its former glory.

The Great Gallery, one of the symbols of the Reggia di Venaria Reale.

What to see at the Palace of Venaria Reale: the floors, the Great Gallery and the gardens

Before visiting the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale, just a 30 minute drive away from the DUPARC Contemporary Suites, I suggest taking a stroll in the village and admiring its streets brimming with bars and restaurants. You will arrive in Piazza della Repubblica, where, through the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower), you will enter the Corte d'Onore (Court of Honour) overlooked by the beautiful Church of Sant'Uberto. Here you can admire the Fontana del Cervo (Fountain of the Stag), its extraordinary water jets (sadly, currently suspended) reaching a height of 12 metres. Continue your tour on the ground floor, where you can visit several faithfully renovated rooms brimming with tapestries, works of art and period furniture.

In the Court of Honor of the Reggia di Venaria Reale, you can admire the Fountain of the Deer.

The royal apartments, located on the first floor, are richly decorated with antiques, period furniture and 17th century paintings by great masters of the calibre of Guido Reni and Van Dyck. Everything inside these rooms conveys a sense of beauty and lets you imagine what court life must have been like. Moreover, the windows afford magnificent views of the beautiful gardens. It is here, on the first floor, that you will find the famous Great Gallery of outstanding beauty. Standing 80 metres long, 15 metres high to the centre of the vaulted ceiling, and 12 metres wide, this is a really impressive and richly decorated gallery. The stuccoes, the black and white flooring (the original floor was dismantled under Napoleon and rebuilt to the original plans in 1995), the 44 windows and the 22 openings along the vaulted ceiling, which flood the gallery with natural light, will be sure to leave you open mouthed.

On the Piano Nobile, you can visit the royal apartments.

Next, I suggest you take the time to visit the Royal Stables, housing some of the carriages used by the Savoy family in the 1700s and the Bucintoro, a perfectly restored boat once used by the Doges of Venice. Another sight not to be missed at the Royal Palace of Venaria are the stunning Royal Gardens, split into an Upper Park (Parco Alto) and a Lower Park (Parco Basso), both renovated in line with the original plans. Particularly worthy of note are the Boschetti (Small Woods), the Giardino delle Rose (Rose Garden), the remains of the Fontana dell'Ercole (Fountain of Hercules), the remains of the Tempio di Diana (Temple of Diana) and the Peschiera (Fish Pond). Visiting these gardens in spring or summer, with the flowering plants bursting with colour, must be a wonderful experience. In particular, at the end of March, the cherry blossoms provide an even more magical atmosphere.

The Gardens of the Reggia di Venaria are an absolute must-see, especially in spring during the blooming season.

Practical Information: tickets, hours, and how to get there

Tickets

To visit the Reggia di Venaria Reale, it's recommended to purchase your ticket online on the official website, choosing the date and time of your visit, especially in spring, during holidays, and peak periods. If you prefer to buy your ticket directly at the Reggia, it's possible—the ticket office is a short walk from the entrance to the Court of Honor.

You can choose from different types of tickets. The most complete is "All in a Palace", which includes a visit to the Palace, the Gardens, and the current exhibitions. Single tickets for just the Palace, the Gardens, or the current exhibitions are also available. You can also purchase a combined ticket for a visit to the Reggia di Venaria and the Castello della Mandria, a real gem just 2.5 km from the Reggia. For ticket prices, click here.

There are reduced prices for those under 21 and for families, and children under 6 enter for free. Admission is also free for holders of the Torino+Piemonte Card, Abbonamento Musei, and Royal Pass.

The Visit

A visit to the Reggia di Venaria Reale and its gardens is self-guided. If you wish, you can purchase a guided tour on the Reggia's web app or rent an audio guide at the ticket office. 90-minute guided tours for individuals and families are available daily at set times, with private 120-minute tours of the Palace or 60-minute tours of the gardens available by reservation for small groups of up to 6 people with an exclusive guide.

Opening Hours

The Reggia di Venaria is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, and hours vary by season. We recommend checking the official website for any changes.

How to Reach the Reggia di Venaria Reale

The Reggia di Venaria is located just 10 km from the center of Turin and can be reached by:

• Car: You can leave your car in one of the two large paid car parks near the residence.

• Bus: Take the dedicated GTT Venaria Express bus line, which connects Porta Susa station with the Reggia di Venaria Reale and the Castello della Mandria.

• Train: From the Torino Porta Susa Station.

I hope this article helps you with your visit to this splendid residence, which is truly worth seeing!

     WRITTEN BY: Viola, Wonderlustviola