Highlights
Did you know?
The Palazzo Reale of Turin was the main residence of the House of Savoy from 1646 until 1865, the year in which the capital of the Kingdom of Italy was transferred from Turin to Florence.
It is precisely within these walls that Vittorio Emanuele II reigned in the early years of unified Italy, making Turin the country's first capital.
The Royal Apartments: a journey through Savoyard luxury
The visiting itinerary through the Royal Apartments is a breathtaking experience.
Through a sequence of sumptuous halls, the visitor encounters environments furnished with original furniture, Flemish tapestries, fine porcelain and paintings by Italian and European masters.
Each room tells a precise story: from the Throne Room, with its frescoed ceiling and the gilded throne, to the bedchambers of the sovereigns, all the way to the private cabinets where the daily life of the court was lived.
The Royal Armoury: one of the most important collections in Europe
In the north wing of the palace lies the Armeria Reale, one of the most important and complete collections of weapons and armour in the entire world.
Founded in 1837 at the will of Carlo Alberto of Savoy, the collection numbers over 5,000 pieces including complete suits of armour, edged weapons, firearms, war trophies and ceremonial objects covering a time span ranging from the Middle Ages up to the nineteenth century.
The Royal Garden: greenery and history behind the palace
Behind the palace extends the Giardino Reale, one of the oldest historic gardens of Turin, designed in the seventeenth century by the French landscape architect André Le Nôtre, the same author of the gardens of Versailles.
Restored and returned to the public, the garden offers an oasis of tranquillity in the heart of the city, with tree-lined avenues, historic fountains and evocative corners where you can stroll far from the urban hustle and bustle.
Today the Royal Palace is part of the Musei Reali di Torino complex, alongside the Galleria Sabauda, the Archaeological Museum and the Royal Library. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 as part of the serial Savoy Residences site, it is far more than a museum: it is a living place capable of moving visitors with its timeless beauty.
Related experiences
The Royal Apartments: a journey through Savoy luxury
The visit to the Royal Apartments is a breathtaking experience. Through a sequence of sumptuous halls, visitors encounter spaces furnished with original furniture, Flemish tapestries, fine porcelain and paintings by Italian and European masters. Each room tells a precise story: from the Throne Room, with its frescoed ceiling and gilded throne, to the sovereigns' bedrooms, all the way to the private cabinets where the daily life of the court played out.
Particularly evocative are the Salone degli Svizzeri, with portraits of the kings of Sardinia, and the Cappella della Sindone, which for centuries housed the famous cloth now kept in the Duomo. The entire sequence of apartments is a masterpiece of baroque and rococo decoration, the work of great artists such as Daniel Seiter, Jan Miel and the most important court architects, including Guarino Guarini and Filippo Juvarra, who left their indelible mark on the palace.
The Royal Armoury: one of Europe's most important collections
In the north wing of the palace lies the Royal Armoury, one of the most important and complete collections of weapons and armour in the entire world. Founded in 1837 at the behest of Carlo Alberto of Savoy, the collection numbers over 5,000 pieces among complete armours, edged weapons, firearms, war trophies and ceremonial objects spanning from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The majesty of the main hall, with armours displayed like a silent host of knights, is a visual spectacle of rare intensity.
Among the most famous pieces stand out 16th-century tournament armours, some belonging to members of the Savoy family, and an extraordinary collection of Eastern weapons that testify to the close diplomatic exchanges of the Turin court with distant powers. The Armoury visit is an essential chapter for anyone wishing to fully understand the military and political history of the Savoys and their role in modern Europe.
The Royal Garden: greenery and history behind the palace
Behind the palace extends the Royal Garden, one of Turin's oldest historic gardens, designed in the 17th century by French landscape designer André Le Nôtre, the same author of the Versailles gardens. Restored and returned to the public, the garden offers an oasis of tranquillity in the heart of the city, with tree-lined avenues, historic fountains and evocative corners where you can stroll far from the urban bustle.
The garden also hosts the Fountain of the Tritons and several original sculptures of great value, while the Coffee House, the lovely 18th-century pavilion built for King Carlo Emanuele III, is one of the most refined examples of leisure architecture of the Piedmontese baroque. Strolling through the Royal Garden means breathing the same air once reserved exclusively for the royal family and their privileged guests.
Did you know? The palace where united Italy was born
The Palazzo Reale of Turin was the main residence of the Savoys from 1646 until 1865, the year in which the capital of the Kingdom of Italy was transferred from Turin to Florence. It is right within these walls that Vittorio Emanuele II reigned in the early years of united Italy, making Turin the country's first capital. A fascinating detail: the palace's main façade, sober and almost austere on the outside, conceals interiors of almost incredible opulence - a deliberate contrast designed to communicate power with discretion, in the typical Savoy style that prized solidity over flashy vanity.