Venaria Reale, Royal residence complex in Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy
Venaria Reale is a royal residence complex in the Metropolitan City of Turin covering approximately 80,000 square meters. The site connects the main building with sprawling gardens and several outbuildings, all linked through courtyards and galleries.
Duke Carlo Emanuele II of Savoy commissioned this hunting residence in the 1660s, renaming the area from Altessano to Venaria Reale. Later rulers expanded the site significantly during the 18th century, when Filippo Juvarra added new wings and stables.
The name derives from 'Venatio Regia,' the Latin term for royal hunt, reflecting the original purpose of this place. Visitors today walk through ceremonial rooms where courtly rituals once unfolded, observing how rooms flow from one to another in a sequence designed to impress guests.
Visitors can explore the gardens on foot or by small trains that run through the grounds. Guided tours in several languages help with orientation through the many rooms and outdoor areas of the complex.
The Juvarra Stables from the 18th century contain the Fountain of the Stag in the Court of Honor, marking the connection between architecture and hunting traditions. This fountain originally served as a ceremonial meeting point for hunters before they set out on their rides.
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