Upper Park Gardens and alley of the Fountain of Hercules
Progetto La Venaria Reale

 

Upper Park Gardens and alley of the Fountain of Hercules
Progetto La Venaria Reale

INVITATION TO COURT. A DAY AT LA VENARIA REALE

This is your Court. All that you are about to see was conceived by great 16th and 17th century architects and it is the result of our ideas and our efforts to bring the Reggia back to life, after two centuries of military use and neglect.

When our work began, the Palace was in ruins, its once imposing stately rooms were in disgrace, all the furniture and decorations were long gone, its boundless Gardens had been wiped away and were barely recognizable in historical sketches.

After eight years of extensive restoration – the largest project in Europe for the recovery of a cultural asset – La Venaria Reale has come alive again, a site reinvented, with the creation of a complex that offers visitors endless chances to be mesmerized and entertained, to enjoy culture, beauty, and leisure pursuits.

In the Reggia the new permanent display has gradually taken shape, in an effort to restore the balance between the art works and the Palace’s vast spaces. On the basement level, in the areas that were once used as service rooms, a didactic itinerary will provide insights into the history of the Savoy dynasty and their domains between the 16th and the 18th century, with a special focus on key figures and themes.

On the piano nobile (or main floor) emotion will punctuate your visit: you will meet the court embodied by the characters created by the brilliant film-maker Peter Greenaway for the project entitled “Peopling the Palaces”. You will relax to the sound of baroque music, watch the show of the Water Theatre, the largest musical fountain in Europe. You will hold your breath as you step into the magnificence of the Great Gallery, into the evocative lights of the Church of Saint Hubert and the solemnity of the Citroniera, absolute masterpieces by Filippo Juvarra. Your walk across the Palace of Diana, through the parade rooms in the enfilade of ceremonial chambers, and private apartments, will be accompanied by remarkable works from private and public collections and other Savoy residences, that provide a glimpse into the original tastes of the Court.

In the redesigned Gardens, now cleared of the weeds and unruly vegetation, your gaze will wander down the straight lines of the Alleys, across the water expanse of the Great Pond and the Channel and the symmetrical rigor of the Parterres, while the archaeological ruins of the Temple of Diana and the Fountain of Hercules and their fragmented decorations will take you back to the original exuberance of the 17th century gardens.

In the Lower Park you will witness the fascinating dialogue between historical architecture and contemporary art: near the massive wall by Castellamonte, you will discover the “Garden of Fluid Sculptures” by Giuseppe Penone, and other original works by Giulio Paolini and other great contemporary artists will soon be on display as well. The Gardens are also an ideal place to relax, to play, to celebrate and be marry, where the ancient paths and the boundless horizons of the 18th century layout nurture our contemporary joy of living.

La Venaria Reale offers many cultural pursuits and a rich calendar of international art exhibitions, in the outstanding exhibition spaces of Juvarra’s Stables and the Rooms of the Art. Performances, shows, concerts, and events are held almost every weekend for a varied audience. Many services are available as well: several cafés inside the Reggia and the Gardens, the exclusive restaurant “Dolce Stil Novo” with its marvellous panoramic terrace, a well-stocked bookshop, guided tours and an overall layout accessible to the disabled. Just outside of the Reggia the ancient nearby town, with its peculiar history and architecture, will also provide a warm welcome and a wealth of good food, in the cafés and restaurants that dot the via Maestra and the piazza dell’Annunziata.

The most striking aspect of La Venaria Reale is its grandness: to explore its various itineraries, to understand its history, and to fully enjoy the many facets of its charm, two hours are not enough: devote at least half a day to truly experience La Venaria Reale. This website will help you plan your day at Court.

 

The Director
Alberto Vanelli

The Reggia di Venaria
Progetto La Venaria Reale

 

The Reggia di Venaria
Progetto La Venaria Reale