The Villa della Regina is a tangible testimony of the rich cultural and architectural heritage of our country. Surrounded by lush greenery, this sumptuous home tells centuries of history and artistic influences.
This 17th century residence in the heart of Turin embodies the elegance and grandeur of the architecture of the time, offering an authentic immersion in the past of the Piedmontese nobility. Since its construction it has housed for centuries the Savoy sovereigns.
Foto – commons.wikimedia.org
Villa della Regina, history
In the seventeenth century, Prince Cardinal Maurizio di Savoia (son of Duke Carlo Emanuele I and brother of Vittorio Amedeo I) commissioned the Castellamonte family to design a complex of vineyards and gardens on a hill in Turin, inspired by the Roman villas.
Over the years, his wife Ludovica of Savoy made extensions and improvements to the structures and gardens, introducing furnishings and decorations.
Subsequently, the vineyard passed to Anna Maria d’Orleans (wife of Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy) and underwent important interventions, becoming the Queen’s Villa.
Foto – flickr.com
Under the guidance of Filippo Juvarra and later of Giovanni Pietro Baroni di Tavigliano, spaces, gardens, furnishings and decorations were redefined, maintaining harmony with the original unitary project. Great artists contributed to the works, such as Giambattista Crosato and Corrado Giaquinto.
Despite the changes of use and the transition to the Institute for the Daughters of the Military, unity was maintained between vineyards, villas, pavilions, gardens and park, as well as service areas and agricultural areas. At the end of the nineteenth century it was donated to the Savoy.
However, during the twentieth century, the complex suffered a degradation due to the lack of maintenance and the state of neglect, followed by partial breakdowns, war damage and interventions not up to par.
In 1994, the Compendium of Villa della Regina passed under the aegis of the Superintendence for the Artistic and Historical Heritage of Piedmont. Thanks to state funding, and private bodies, were carried out restorations that restored the structure to its former glory.
Villa della Regina: what to see inside and outside
The architecture of the Villa della Regina is a fusion of Renaissance style and Baroque style with finely elaborated details and scrupulous attention to design. The structure is flanked by an Italian garden and an amphitheater in the back.
At the end of the driveway, there is an elliptical square (Gran Rondeau) with a majestic central fountain, surrounded by a double staircase. At the center of the fountain stands a marble sculpture depicting the god Neptune sitting while the sides are placed twelve statues representing river deities.
From the Gran Rondeau you get to a large rectangular square, finished by a pincer staircase and a central basin of smaller dimensions that houses a marble statue depicting a mermaid (Siren Bath).
In addition to slightly protruding from the two side pavilions, the central façade is surmounted by a U-shaped balustrade characterized by six imposing statues.
Behind the main structure there is a large garden in the shape of a semicircle, divided on three levels by rows of hedges. From the central body branches off a semicircular cavity bordered by a semicircular wall (on which are inserted twenty niches mostly adorned with statues) that contains a small marble basin. At the two obelisks there is a staircase that leads to another tank oriented towards the Grotta del Re Selvaggio (marble structure decorated with mirrors and polychrome stones).
The staircase continues towards the highest point of the complex: the upper Belvedere. At its base there is the so-called Fontana del Mascherone that with its waters feeds a cascade with stone steps (Cascatella della Naiade) that follows the staircase in parallel, channeling water to the fountains below. It is the point where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the building and the garden.
Foto – commons.wikimedia.org
To the right of the main façade, there is the Solinghi Pavilion, a building consisting of two floors that appears more isolated and partially hidden from view.
Inside, there are rooms decorated with frescoes, stuccoes and works of art by renowned artists of the time, such as Giovanni Battista Crosato, Daniel Seiter, Corrado Giaquinto and Pietro Somazzi. These environments tell stories of powerful rulers and lavish celebrations, offering an authentic immersion in the aristocratic life of that period. Note the four Chinese Cabinets in lacquered and gilded wood.
How long is the visit to the Queen’s Villa?
How long does it take to visit Villa della Regina Torino? The visit lasts about an hour (seventy-five minutes if you take a guided tour) and admission is subject to a fee.
How much does it cost to visit Villa della Regina in Turin? The cost of tickets depends on the period in which you give yourself this experience, but in principle you can access it at an affordable price.
Normally the rates are lowered for all children aged between eighteen and twenty-five years while the visit to Villa della Regina in Turin provides free admission to certain categories of visitors, such as children under eighteen, teachers and persons with disabilities and their accompanying persons.
Villa della Regina: how to get there
Villa della Regina is located between Val San Martino and Val Salice and more precisely in Strada Comunale Santa Margherita and can be reached by climbing from the church of the Great Mother of God up the hill. You can reach it using several options.
If you are travelling by plane, Turin Caselle Airport “Sandro Pertini” is the closest airport. From there you can take buses and taxis.
Travelers moving by train can stop at the nearest stations, namely Torino Porta Nuova or Torino Porta Susa.
Foto – pixabay.com
Those who opt for public transport can take the lines 53, 56 and 66 and get off at Villa Regina Ovest (stops 1421/1422) or travel on lines 13 and 73 and get to Gran Madre Termininea (stop 480).
You can also reach Villa della Regina by car, coming from the A21 motorway, taking the Turin ring road, exiting at Corso Unità d’Italia and continuing to the center. If you are travelling along the A32 motorway then you have to take the Turin ring road towards Milan, exit at Corso Regina Margherita and continue towards the centre. If you are coming from the A4 or A5 motorways, you must continue until the end of the motorway to Torino centro. The nearest car parks are near Piazzale Regina Margherita and Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Copertina: progettostoriadellarte
