Reggia di Venaria Reale

The Reggia di Venaria Reale is the grandest of the Savoy residences in Piedmont, Italy, standing in the town of Venaria Reale just north of Turin at Piazza della Repubblica 4. Begun in 1675 as a hunting lodge for Duke Charles Emmanuel II, it was designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte and later extended by Filippo Juvarra in the early 18th century. After decades of decay, an extensive restoration reopened it in 2007, and it now forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. Inside, visitors walk through a long sequence of state rooms, including the Hall of Diana, the Great Gallery, a luminous Juvarra space of white stucco and tall windows that is the architectural highlight, and the Church of Sant'Uberto. The former stables, the Citroniera and the Scuderie Juvarriane, host large temporary exhibitions that often justify the ticket on their own. Behind the palace, roughly 60 hectares of restored Baroque-style gardens contain the Fountain of the Stag, pergolas, orchards, sculpture and contemporary art installations, with long axial views back toward the facade. Photographers favour the Great Gallery in the morning, when light enters from the side windows, and the garden perspectives in the late afternoon. A full visit of the palace, exhibitions and gardens takes three to five hours, so a half day is sensible. Crowds peak at weekends and on holidays, especially in spring and early autumn, while weekday mornings are the calmest. The complex is closed on Mondays. Getting there is straightforward from central Turin, with a GTT bus on line 11 taking about 20 minutes and the suburban railway also serving Venaria Reale. Visitors should allow time for the on-site cafes and a walk in the gardens, which are pleasant even when the interiors are busy. Summer evening openings have been offered in some years, giving a cooler and quieter way to see the gardens.