Venaria Reale
All you need to know about the city, the palace and the castle of La Mandria
The Palace of Venaria Reale is the second-largest castle in Italy and shoud therefore be on your to-do-list when visiting Piedmont.
The huge castle complex consists of the impressive, 80000m2 hunting lodge and the 60-hectare palace park.
Also included are the historic village formerly built for the castle’s servants – today’s old town of Venaria Reale city – and the 3000-hectare Parco della Mandria, with the castle of La Mandria.
Info: Venaria Reale translates into „royal hunting“
With such a large and important Piedmont sight, you would think you could find everything you need to know about the visit on the internet. Although I did a lot of research before my visit, I still didn’t feel well prepared.
Essential information were missing: How exactly does a visit of the historic grounds work? Is there a tour? Which castle do I visit first, and how do I get from one castle to the other?
All these questions remained unanswered for me. In order to be better prepared, you will find here everything you need to know for your visit to the castles, the historic center and the parks of Venaria Reale.
Buy your ticket in advance to avoid queuing in the ticket office onsite.
⇨ Online ticket for the Palace of Venaria Reale and the royal gardes
Venaria Reale Overview
Venaria Reale is actually the name of a town with almost 33000 inhabitants, about 10km northeast of Turin.
The small town of Venaria Reale is known for the impressive palace of the Reggia di Venaria Reale as well as the natural park La Mandria, located northwest of it, both in the town’s territory.
History Venaria Reale (short version)
In the mid-17th century, Duke Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy decided that he needed a hunting and pleasure palace within his hunting grounds, northeast of Turin. In 1679, his architect Amedeo di Castellamonte finished the palace.
After it was destroyed by French troops, his successor, Victor Amadeus II, had it rebuilt, remodeled and extended, following the example of the Palace of Versailles.
Architect Filippo Juvarra designed the palace and gardens of a truly royal residence and gave the complex the impressive appearance it has today.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the palace of Venaria Reale was looted and damaged, and the beautiful gardens were turned into a parade ground.
In the following centuries the former royal palace served various purposes, for example as barracks or even as a warehouse for works of art.
After the military occupations during the two World Wars, the castle fell into disrepair and everything that was not nailed down was looted.
It was not until 1999 that a comprehensive restoration of the palace and palace gardens began to restore the grounds to their former glory. At the end of 2007, the Reggia di Venaria was reopened and has been accessible to visitors ever since.
Since 1997, the entire area of the hunting lodge, together with 21 other residences of the Royal House of Savoy in Piedmont like the Palazzo Reale in Turin, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palace Reggia di Venaria Reale – Sightseeing Tour
Any visit to the palace of the Reggia di Venaria begins and ends at Piazza della Republica. From the entrance, inside the palace, you will go slightly downhill to the basement. Here there is a free checkroom and the possibility to pick up the reserved audio guide.
Info: An audio guide is helpful, of course, but there is really detailed information in Italian, French, and English everywhere, so I didn’t use my audio guide at all.
It’s not really obvious from the plans you get at the ticket office, but there is a signposted tour of all the rooms to be visited, ending with the palace garden. So you just have to follow the flow of people or the signs.
There is lots of history around the castle! A small guided tour in english is perfect if you prefer not read all info but have a knowledgable guide right at your site
⇨ More infos on a guided Venaria Reale tour
Piano Seminterrano I / Basement
The first section of the tour leads through the former service rooms in the basement of the castle.
Here, you can get an overview of the history of the Savoy dynasty and the former inhabitants of the Reggia di Venaria. In addition, information is provided about the construction of the castle and its builders.
The exhibition is multimedia and very interesting. You will also discover the function for the particular room or hall you are in was once was used. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no sign of this use today, as the rooms have been completely renovated.
Piano Nobile II / Royal floor
By stairs or the elevator you go up to the first floor, the Beletage, with the well-known highlights of the Savoy Castle.
Immediately on the left, the path branches off to the art halls (it: Sale delle Arti), where special exhibitions take place. ⇨ For this area you need an additional ticket.
Next are the apartments of the ladies-in-waiting and Princess Ludovica: beautiful ceiling frescoes and paintings, as well as some antique furniture. A highlight in this area is the Diana Hall, which was used for a wedding during my visit.
Then we pass through the Queen’s rooms to reach the imposing Great Gallery (it. Galleria Grande). The beautiful hall, flooded with light and decorated with stucco ornaments, is 80m long, 12m wide and 15m high. Really impressive!
On the other side of the beautiful grand gallery, you pass through more rooms decorated with paintings.
From the Gran Parterre, you enter the Chapel of St. Humbert (it. Capella di Sant’Uberto). Instead of a dome, the church has only a comparatively flat round roof, painted with a trompe-l’œil, which gives the impression of a large dome.
Le Scuderie Juvarriane / Juvarra stables
From the chapel back to the Gran Parterre and through the Book Shop of the castle, adjoining on the left are the former stables.
Filippo Juvarra was the architect who built them between 1722 and 1727 as an orangery (it. Citroneria) and large horse stable (it. Scuderia Grande).
This imposing part of the building, with an area of 5000 m2 (140m long and almost 15m wide) also hosts special exhibitions. During my visit, various carriages as well as a gilded, royal gondola could be admired here.
Royal Garden
Then it’s back through the Book Shop and into the Gran Parterre, from where the doors lead into the Royal Gardens. The huge park area is divided into different areas. Work on restoring the former splendor, however, is far from being completed.
The rough running direction of the round tour leads once, right around the castle. But you have to know that, it is not communicated anywhere…
In the Parco Alto, the area that you enter first after leaving the castle, the rose garden is particularly worth seeing.
Further on, along the palace facade, you enter the central axis, at the beginning of which is the Hercules Fountain and at the end the foundation of the Temple of Diana. This central garden area is somewhat lower and hides behind a flower garden with a small fountain.
Info: From the Hercules Fountain to the former Diana Temple it is a 1km walk, so 2km return.
Royal garden of Venaria Reale
To the right of the central axis is the so-called Lower Park (it. Parco Basso). In this lower part of the garden also departs the small train (it. La Freccia di Diana).
Info: For those who don’t want to or can’t walk through the extensive park, a ride on the “Diana’s Arrow” small train is an option. The approx. 25-minute round trip takes you through the Lower Park to the remains of Diana’s Temple and back again. ⇨ Rate: € 4.00 per person
I strolled above the Parco Basso, along the palace and have been able to look down from there into parts of this extensive park area.
The U-shaped tour of the palace ends in the cour d’honneur. From the wide terrace, you have another view of various art objects and installations in the royal garden.
Within the Court of Honor, which I had seen already from the Hall of Diana, stands a Deer Fountain.
At different times during the day there are water games from 100 water jets, which are up to 9 meters high, accompanied by classical music. Through the clock tower you finish the tour of the Reggia di Venaria Reale and then you are back in the central Piazza della Republica.
Parco & Castello della Mandria / Natural park & Castle of Mandria
The 3000 hectare Parco della Mandria, is the largest fenced nature reserve in Europe. The wall, around the former royal hunting ground, has a total length of almost 30km.
The residential and hunting castle La Mandria (it. Castello della Mandria), located in the park, was built between 1709 and 1861, first intended only as stables and later rebuilt and extended to become the personal retreat of Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy.
Castle Mandria
Quite different from the grand palace next door, inside the royal apartments of Mandria Castle you get the impression that the king still lives here and is about to return from hunting any minute.
The beautifully restored royal apartments of Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy and Rosa Vercellana (“Bela Rosin”) consist of more than 20 rooms that are open to visitors today.
These have been completely renovated and contain valuable objects, works of art, textiles, furniture and furnishings from old Savoy collections. The other parts of the buildings of the 35000m2 complex are not yet renovated and look quite run down.
Info: The entrance to the park area, unlike the Reggia Castle Garden, is free of charge. The ticket office for Mandria Castle is located inside the castle complex.
The village Venaria Reale
The historical center of Venaria Reale is Piazza dell’Annunziata, which is absolutly worth visiting, and Via Andrea Mensa (formerly Via Maestra), which leads from there to the castle entrance.
The ground plan of the so-called Borgo Antico is modeled on the collar of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, the highest order of merit in Italy until 1951.
In the place of the medallion, the architect Castellamonte designed a circular square with two twin churches on the right and left.
As in the 17th century, the arterial road Via Maestre is designed only to lead visitors to the castle entrance. Lined with palazzi and arcaded buildings, the car-free pedestrian zone is now paved with bars, restaurants and cafes.
Things to know about the castle entrances
Unlike what Google Maps might suggest to you, the Venaria Reale Palace, including the huge palace garden, is completely separated from the natural park and La Mandria Castle.
To the street Viale Carlo Emanuele II, which runs along the palace park to the Mandria, the park area is separated by a high fence, with locked gates and to the north by the river Cerona.
I actually wanted to walk after visiting the Reggia di Venaria Reale through the huge palace garden, across the central axis and past the Temple of Diana to the Castle of the Mandria and then take another route back through the garden.
I didn’t want to move the car and instead connect the highlights by walking. This is not possible, the castle park is completely fenced, with no exit to the natural park of La Mandria.
So if you want to visit both castles, you must first completely finish one visit, leave the respective area and go by car, bus or bike to the other entrance.
Important: You can’t walk through the royal gardens to the Mandria.
Planning your visit to Venaria Reale ⇨ My tips
In Venaria Reale there is a lot to see and that wants or needs some planning.
Good to know: When booking your ticket or at the latest at the ticket office on site, you must specify times for the castle visits.
How long will it take me to visit the palace, the old town and La Mandria?
Here you can find timing information for the 3 places of interest: the Palace of Venaria Reale (including the palace garden), the old town of Venaria Reale and the Castle of La Mandria.
Venaria Reale Village: For the old town you do not need long. Strolling up and down the main street takes about 30 minutes.
Palace of Venaria Reale: For the palace visit, plan about 3 hours. If you want to walk to the Temple of Diana, at the end of the palace garden, you should add at least 30 minutes.
La Mandria castle: For the visit of Mandria Castle itself you need about an hour. Plan at least 30-60 minutes for the way to the castle within the nature park.
When do I visit which castle?
If you want to visit only the Venaria Reale Palace and the old town, I would plan this from noon. The reason is that the tour groups that are on site first thing in the morning when the doors open will already be done.
If you want to see both castles and the old town, I would again start with the Reggia di Venaria. Then either try to get through the palace doors before the tour groups or let the organized groups go ahead and start by visiting the old town.
Important: When planning the times, do not forget that after the one visit to the castle you will have to go by bus or car to the entrance of the nature park and also there you will have another 15 minutes walk to the castle entrance of La Mandria.
Opening times
Opening times Reggia di Venaria
Monday: closed
Tuesday to Friday: 9:30 to 17:00hrs
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9:30 to 18:30hrs
Opening times La Mandria Castle
Monday: closed
Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 17:00hrs
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9:30 to 18:30hrs
⇨ Reserve here your online ticket for the Palace of Venaria Reale and the royal gardes and avoid quing in the ticket office.
⇨ My Tipp: If you plan on visiting both castles (Venaria Reale and La Mandria), think about buying the Torino City Pass / Torino Piemonte Card to safe some money. Check here if the city card is worth the money for your specific trip.
How to get there, parking and Ticket Office
Ticket Office
If you do not buy your ticket online in advance, you must go to the separate Ticket Office before your visit to the castle.
This is located on the eastern side of the Piazza della Republica, opposite the entrance to the castle and the clock tower (it. Torre dell’Orologio) ⇨ Location.
At the Ticket Office you can buy single tickets as well as combined tickets for both castles and the small train.
Parking in Venaria Reale
The main parking for the Palace of Venaria Reale is the parking Parcheggio Castellamonte (⇨ location), just 1 minute walk from the entrance of the castle. Rate: € 1,00 per hour.
Another paid parking lot, Parking Carlo Emanuele II, is located a little further north along the street Viale Carlo Emanuele II (⇨ location).
Free parking is available at the entrance to the Natural Park and Castle of La Mandria in the gravel parking lot Parcheggio Borgo Castello (⇨ location).
How to get to Venaria Reale
The small town and the palace of Venaria Reale are located about 10km northeast of Turin’s city center and are therefore ideal for a day trip.
Venaria is easily accessible by car via the A55 highway and its own exit.
Better and more environmentally friendly than the car is the public transport. From downtown Turin, you can reach the Savoy Castle with line C of the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus or the public bus.
Buses stop at the Stazione di Venaria Reale train station, which is only a 10-minute walk from the castle entrance. From or to there are the following options:
- Bus 3971 – departs approx. every 30 minutes to / from Torino Porta Susa train station
- Bus 11 – runs approximately every 15 minutes to / from Crocetta, Corso Stati Uniti (at Porta Nuova station)
- Train to / from Germagnano via Turin airport runs every 30 minutes
There is also the Venaria Express hop-on hop-off bus. This runs on weekends and holidays from downtown Turin and stops in the Venaria Reale old town as well as directly in front of the palace and at the entrance to the nature park La Mandria.
Cost of the day ticket: € 7.00 per person (Torino Piemonte Card holders: € 4.00 per person).
⇨ More details and everything you need to know in order to decide if the Torino Piemonte Card is worth buying for your specific needs
Concusion
I definitly recommend the visit to Reggia di Venaria as well as the Mandria Castle. Especially the difference between the two castles make this full-day excursion absolutely worthwhile.
Since times have to be booked in advance, it is unfortunately essential to think about this in advance and not to look as “lost and silly” on site as I did.
Plan rather a little more time and “dawdle” this in the historic center of Venaria Reale or with strolling through the castle gardens.
My Tip: Another impressiv Savoyen Castle you should visit is the Castello di Racconigi, just 40km south of Turin.
