Discover Venaria Reale

If you are weighing up a stay between cultural history and landscapes, Venaria Reale offers two distinct perspectives: the residence and historic Borgo Antico, and La Mandria Nature Park. UNESCO includes the Castello di Venaria among the Savoy Residences that formed the “Crown of Delights” around Turin.

The Reggia and Borgo Antico

In the 17th century, the Borgo Antico served as the ceremonial entrance that led visitors to the Reggia’s Sala di Diana. Today, it welcomes visitors with historic architecture, a long vista and its royal history. The Borgo therefore adds its own historical perspective to the experience of the residence.

The visitor route through the Reggia di Venaria extends for almost 2,000 metres between the basement and the piano nobile. This describes a route that takes in different levels of the building. The Galleria Grande can be understood through its proportions: it is about 80 metres long and 12 metres wide, and its vaulted ceiling is around 15 metres high at the centre.

The Reggia’s collection also reveals different aspects of art and cultural history. It comprises more than 500 works, including paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, clocks and musical instruments. The Bucintoro dei Savoia is the only surviving original example of its kind in the world.

Gardens and the Mandria landscape

La Mandria Regional Nature Park covers 6,570 hectares. It protects lowland oak forests interspersed with meadows and bodies of water. This makes its focus on the landscape distinctly different from the Reggia’s rooms and artworks: here, the emphasis is on the preserved woodland and its open spaces.

The Potager Royal is located in the lower park of the Reggia’s gardens and covers about 10 hectares. Its location and size give this garden area its own scale within the grounds described here. La Mandria Nature Park also has trails for horseback riding and carriage rides.

The Castello della Mandria is set amid 3,000 hectares of meadows and woods in the nature park. Its Royal Apartments are rich in art and history; the Castello is described as the preferred residence of the first King of Italy. At Mandria, then, the historic interiors are a focus alongside the landscape.

Getting there and finding your way

The Reggia di Venaria is about 10 kilometres from Turin and can be reached by train, bus, car, bicycle or plane. The SFM4, SFM6 and SFM7 train lines serve the Reggia. From the Reggia di Venaria stop, it is about a 500-metre walk through the Borgo Antico to the ticket office. If you are planning to travel by train, it is worth checking the latest timetables before your trip.

When choosing what to visit, the focus is clear: the Reggia and Borgo Antico offer residence architecture, art and history; Mandria offers oak forests, meadows, bodies of water, and trails for horseback riding or carriage rides. These specific differences can help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay in Venaria Reale.

Discover more destinations: Orbassano, Chieri, Carignano, Vistrorio, Sangano, Casalborgone, Gassino Torinese, San Francesco Al Campo

For the full travel overview: Turin.