Savoy Residences
Villa della Regina (Torino)
Category: Savoy Residences
The ducal residency is one of the fundamental points of reference within the hills. Built along an addition to the main axis of Via Po, it is the type of maison de plaisance which will become the model for the vineyards and the villas of the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie. Requested by Cardinal Maurizio di Savoia, built following the design of Ascanio Vitozzi at the beginning of the 17th century, it was reconstructed following the ideas of Filippo Juvarra, who in the first part of the 18th century paid special attention to vineyards and ensembles of gardens. The façade presents a decorative illusionary display with fake architecture that recalls the “Genovese–style palace”. The grandness of the spectacular display includes the exterior as well as the interior of the villa.
Long abandoned, part of the villa was worked-on in 1963 for a show dedicated to Piedmont Baroque. In more recent years, important recovery work has begun and ended: the restoration of the noble floor with frescos by Giuseppe Dallamano and Giovan Battista Crosato, fixing installations, flooring with the relative relocation of restored original furnishings, the restoration of the garden and the park with the exedra, the ninfeo (monumental fountain), the rotunda, the Solinghi pavilion, the statues, the grottesche (fanciful decorations), and the fountains. Other restoration work dealt with the upper floors and with the polychrome facades embellished with painted architecture. On July 16, 2006, the Villa della Regina (Queen’s Villa) was reopened to the public. Reservations are required. Besides the gardens and the noble floors, it is possible to tour the upper floors, among them the second floor which houses the regional Cultural Heritage Documentation and Cataloguing Center.
Information
Strada S. Margherita, 40 - 10132 Torino
Tel. +39.011.8195035
www.artito.arti.beniculturali.it
