The Aosta Valley is one of the most fairy-tale Italian regions, also thanks to its wealth of castles for all tastes: majestic and imposing, or collected but of particular architectural and historical importance. Savoia Castle wanted by the then Queen of Italy Marghrita, is among the most beautiful, is located in the town of Belvedere in the town of Gressoney Saint-Jean.
Fonte: gressoneymonterosa.it
Located at 1440 meters above sea level, its location offers an extraordinary view of Monte Rosa and the Lyskamm Glacier; despite its small size, its structure and its architecture make it still magnificent, not by chance it was wanted by Queen Margherita just to have her safe nest in the valley she has always loved.
History and origins of Castel Savoia
The construction of Castel Savoia began in 1899 and lasted for the next five years. It was Queen Margherita who wanted to live in the valley during the summer and, after some resistance, King Umberto I decided to satisfy her by entrusting the initial project to the architect Emilio Stramucci.
Fonte: viaggiamo.it
If the sovereign could never benefit from the residence, since he was assassinated in 1900, the queen attended the castle until his death. Subsequently, the ownership of the castle passed first to the Moretti industry and then to the Valle d’Aosta Region.
See a map of Savoia Castle
Architecturally, Castel Savoia presents a set of different styles ranging from the neo-medieval, the neo-Renaissance and the Art Nouveau. The visits between its interior and exterior spaces can only take place through a guided tour, which allows you to discover all the details of the individual rooms and the history of Queen Margaret.
The kitchens
The first place you visit is the kitchen; this is because the ticket office is located in the same building, connected to the rest of the castle by an underground road.
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
Since the latter extends for about thirty meters, during the early years of the twentieth century was built a system of food carriers on rails.
The atrium
Leaving the kitchens, you pass through the atrium, the true fulcrum of the castle, from which the surrounding rooms branch off.
Fonte: e-borghi.com
It is characterized by beautiful pillars in local stone, while the ceiling is a wooden coffered decorated with the coats of arms of the House of Savoy.
The staircase
The undisputed protagonist of Castel Savoia is its staircase, a real work of art composed of two cantilevered ramps leading from the ground floor to the first floor.
Fonte: aostasera.it
Designed by Michele Dellera, the decorations are by Carlo Cussetti.
La Gran Sala
Next to the atrium is the Great Hall, the representative hall, also used for listening to music.
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
The passage was initially closed by a large curtain in brocade fabric, while the door leading to the dining room was carved by Giacomo Borra.
The dining room
Through this beautiful carved door you can access, therefore, the dining room, whose walls covered in wood have always been carved by Michele Dellera.
Fonte: staticflickr.com
Since, as explained before, the kitchens were particularly distant, the room is equipped with a small corner called Office that was used to heat the dishes from the kitchens.
The veranda
The north-eastern tower of the castle is almost totally surrounded by a veranda, a space from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and unspoilt nature, as well as Monte Rosa.
Fonte: staticflickr.com
Inside, Queen Margherita used to relax in the company of her guests, in a completely informal way.
The reception room
The most important events were celebrated in the reception room, a salon much loved by Queen Margaret and her ladies-in-waiting.
Fonte: hive.blog
The original furnishings still present are very few, but they are perfectly preserved, like the billiards in the center of the room.
The study of the Marquise of Villamarina
Next to the reception room is the small studio of the Marquise of Villamarina, that is Paola Pes, the lady of honor of the sovereign for over thirty years.
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
The room enjoys a privileged location, with a window overlooking directly Monte Rosa.
La Gran Torre
In total, Castel Savoia boasts five towers, all different from each other; however, the Gran Torre is the most imposing and the one that attracts the most attention.
Fonte: wikimedia.org
Inside there is an elliptical stone staircase that leads from the basement to the top floor, precisely inside a circular room; the latter was used by the Royal Carabinieri Corps to guard the entire territory with an excellent perspective.
The central hall
The first room on the first floor is the central room, through which you can finally reach the private apartments of Queen Margaret and the people closest to her.
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
The bedroom of the queen
Her Majesty’s bedroom is characterized by silk upholstery and wooden carvings on the ceiling of the Dellera.
Fonte: aostasera.it
Unfortunately, it is not possible to admire any furniture that actually belonged to the queen, since all her personal effects were transferred after her death.
The queen’s bath
The bedroom has, of course, a personal bathroom of Queen Margherita: super equipped, it consists of a basin basin and a bathtub made to measure, along with a small toilet.
Fonte: wikimedia.org
The study of the queen
Also from the bedroom you come to the study of the queen, an intimate and very bright overlooking Monte Rosa. The walls were painted by Carlo Cussetti.
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
The bedroom of the Marquise of Villamarina
The last room to visit is the bedroom of the Marquise of Villamarina which, according to Stramucci’s project, was actually intended for King Umberto I (in fact it is a mirror image of the queen).
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
After the king’s murder, the room was assigned to the queen’s best friend.
The botanical garden
To complete the visit of the entire Savoia Castle, a stop at the botanical garden, built in 1990, is a must.
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
The bedroom of the Marquise of Villamarina
The last room to visit is the bedroom of the Marquise of Villamarina which, according to Stramucci’s project, was actually intended for King Umberto I (in fact it is a mirror image of the queen).
Fonte: lorenzotaccioli.it
After the king’s murder, the room was assigned to the queen’s best friend.
The botanical garden
To complete the visit of the entire Savoia Castle, a stop at the botanical garden, built in 1990, is a must.
Fonte: routefood.net
Inside you can admire numerous alpine botanical species that can grow among the rocks and that seem to walk on the stone staircases that lead straight to the castle.
Copertina: gressoneymonterosa
