APPARTAMENTI REALI DEL CASTELLO DE LA MANDRIA

The Royal Apartments, which were inhabited by Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy and Rosa Vercellana, 'la Bela Rosin', Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda, have recently been restored thanks to a major public grant and the contribution of Compagnia di San Paolo.The Royal Apartments consist of 20 rooms, completely furnished with precious artefacts, works of art, fabrics, furniture and furnishings from the ancient Savoy collections, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the taste of the first king of Italy. The decorative and furnishing choices were entrusted to the court architect Domenico Ferri, who promoted a significant figurative worksite that is still perfectly preserved today.The recovery of the countless masterpieces housed here has made it possible to rediscover their original splendour. Finest furnishings, precious textiles, gold, refined artefacts, pictorial cycles and more than 100 works of art "come back to life" thanks to an incredible recovery work aimed at preservation and maximum enjoyment. The atmosphere is special and evocative: one does not enter a museum, but the King's private rooms, designed and organised for a wealthy country life, together with his beloved lady, Rosa Vercellana, and their children. Far from the officialdom of the court, the sovereign is here captured as a man who freely chose the place where he could indulge in his favourite activities such as hunting or playing billiards. It is for this reason that the Royal Apartments at La Mandria reveal unique and utterly peculiar aspects of royal life, revealing a more intimate profile than in other residences where space was left for ceremonial and representation. The royal flats are set within La Mandria Park, a place of great charm, where one can experience unique sensations immersed in the silence and natural smells of its surroundings. One can spend pleasant hours cycling along the tree-lined avenues, discovering the flora and fauna.