CASTELLO REALE DI GOVONE

The Govone Castle It has a richly decorated façade, embellished with sculptures from the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale. The building is framed to the north and west by a vast English-style park, while on the east side there is a Italian-style roof garden.

Already mentioned in 989, The castle was originally built as a fortress with ramparts and corner towers. Its current appearance is due to Solaro Accounts, lords of Govone since the 13th century, who between the end of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century entrusted the work to great architects such as Guarino Guarini e Benedetto Alfieri.

In 1792, Upon the death of the last Count Solaro without direct heirs, the complex was purchased by Vittorio Amedeo III, King of Sardinia, for his sons Carlo Felice – the future king – and Giuseppe Benedetto Placido, Count of Moriana. After the Napoleonic period, it was precisely Charles Felix to promote, from 1819, a major restoration campaign involving architects Giuseppe Cardone e Michele Borda, and painters Carlo Pagani e Andrea Piazza. During this period, Govone became his summer residence.

Particular attention was paid to the scenography. decoration of the central hall, entrusted to Luigi Vacca e Fabrizio Sevesi, while four rooms still preserve precious Chinese tapestries.

Upon the death of Carlo Felice in 1831, the castle passed to his widow. Mary Christina, who then left it to him as an inheritance. Ferdinand of Savoy, Duke of Genoa. In 1897 The complex was purchased by the municipality, which auctioned off furnishings and objects from the historic rooms.

An emblematic testimony to life at the Piedmontese court in the 19th century, the Royal Castle of Govone has been officially included in the 1997among the Savoy Residences recognised by the’UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.