Savoy Residences
Castello di Rivoli
Category: Savoy Residences
Belonging at the time to Turin’s bishopric, the Rivoli Castle became property of the Savoy in 1280. Its history follows the events of the Savoy dynasty for six centuries. Its strategic importance is documented by events such as the formal wedding between Bianca di Savoia, sister of Amedeo VI, the Conte Verde, and Galeazzo Visconti, and the Consilium Principis, which was housed there.
Used during the 15th century and the first half of the 16th century as a military outpost, it was only after the Chateau-Cambresis peace (1559) that the castle welcomed Emanuele Filiberto and his court. When the capital was transferred from Chambery to Turin in 1536, Rivoli was already undergoing restoration overseen by Francesco Paciotto, who created Turin’s Citadel. Partially destroyed by French troops at the end of the 17th century, Rivoli was redesigned by Michelangelo Garove, whom Filippo Juvarra followed. The Juvarrian design, which took Garove’s architectural lines and broadened the spaces and openings, was never completed, although Vittorio Emanuele’s central idea of creating a symbol of Savoy greatness and of controlling the symbolic vistas and connections appears to have been successfully carried out along the Rivoli-Superga axis and along the tree-lined boulevard, Corso Francia, which leads to the new Piazza Reale.
After years of neglect and improper use, a project of recovery began. In 1984, the Castle, restored and transformed into one of the most important European spaces of contemporary art, was inaugurated with the exhibit “Overture”. Today, the Rivoli Castle-Museum of Contemporary Art boasts a permanent collection which documents the crucial moments of contemporary art in Italy from the beginning of the ‘50’s with works by Balla, Fontana, Vedova, Boetti, Cattelan, with special attention being paid to the Arte Povera Movement of Merz, Zorio, Penone, Pistoletto, Paolini, Mainolfi, Kounellis, and the significant presence of international artists such as Beecroft, Oppenheim, Buren, Kirkeby, and Horn. About fifteen years later, the Manica Lunga was inaugurated; 140 meters deep and in times past used as a picture gallery, it offers more expository space, museum services, teaching structures, the museum of publicity, and the Combal.zero, a very elegant restaurant.
Information
Piazza Mafalda di Savoia - 10098 Rivoli (To)
Tel. +39.011.9565222
E-mail: info@castellodirivoli.org
www.castellodirivoli.it
