Did you know that the palace of Venaria Reale was once a hunting lodge for the Duke of Savoy? The Duke, Charles Emmanuel II, was a keen hunter and wanted a place to relax and entertain guests after a good day of hunting. The story starts in the 17th century, when the Duke commissioned the construction of the palace. Built by the architect Amedeo di Castellamonte, its name Venaria Reale derives from the Latin phrase Venatio Regia meaning ‘Royal Hunt’. Imagine the scene! The Duke, clad in hunting regalia, riding his horse through the woods, with a retinue of courtiers following closely behind. They would then return to the palace, where they would feast and celebrate their day’s activities.
While the initial palace design was beautiful, the Duke’s successor, Victor Amadeus II, wanted something even grander. He wanted a palace that would rival the Palace of Versailles in France. So, in the late 17th century, a new architect, Michelangelo Garove, was brought in to redesign the palace. Imagine how grand the palace must have been! Filled with opulent furnishings, gilded decorations and beautiful gardens, it was a true marvel of architecture and design. Guests would be amazed by the grandeur of the palace, and the Duke would enjoy its many comforts and luxuries.
But history, as they say, has its own plans. With the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte, the palace suffered a severe decline. The gardens were destroyed and the palace itself was transformed into military barracks. The original plan for the gardens would only reappear in the form of drawings and descriptions. In those years the palace fell into ruin, robbed of its glory and forgotten.
But the story of La Venaria Reale doesn’t end there. The restoration of the palace and gardens began in the late 20th century, with the help of the European Union and the Italian government. This was a massive undertaking, involving hundreds of experts and companies. The goal was to bring the palace back to its former glory, to restore its beauty and grandeur for future generations.
Standing before you, you can see the end result. The palace, with its magnificent halls and its restored gardens, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of those who worked to bring this grand residence back to life. This majestic palace is a reminder of the rich history of Italy, and of the enduring beauty of art and architecture.