7 Stunning Royal Palaces in Turin that you don’t want to miss

You cannot visit Turin without hearing about the Savoys and their palaces. Used as residences or getaways, their palaces were so numerous and important to the region, several of them are official heritage sites. So no need to say that a visit to some of the palaces in Turin are a must for any traveler.

So it stands to reason that if you’re visiting Turin, especially for the first time, you need to take some time to visit at least a few of these prime royal attractions. 

In the modern city, at least seven residences remain as royal museums or tourist attractions today.

Of course, the  Savoy dynasty expanded well beyond Turin with many more mansions outside the city. You can read more about them on the list of UNESCO Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

But no reading beats the real feel of visiting these majestic palaces in Turin and the region. If you are up for an immersive experience with incredible architecture, stunning gardens and years and years of history, we have the perfect guide for you.  

Before we start our list of the unmissable palaces in Turin let’s talk a bit of history, so you can understand why these royal residences are so unique and important.

About the Royal House of Savoy and Turin Palaces

To understand a little more about the Turin palaces and their history, let’s briefly look at who the Savoys were.

The House of Savoy dynasty can be traced as far back as 1003, ruling through the ages over various territories including Sicily, Sardinia and Piedmont. The family eventually unified Italy in 1861 and ruled until after World War II in 1946.   

From around the 16th Century, The Savoys built numerous residences and palaces in their domains, now known as Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. In 1946, the family was overthrown and the republic claimed the palaces for the state, which indicated the end of the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946). 

Visiting the Royal Residences and Palaces in Turin

The palaces and residences are open to the public to visit most days, though there is at least one day a week that they might be closed. Give yourself lots of time to explore whichever palace you visit, as there are usually plenty of fascinating items and rooms to admire and explore. 

You may also want to look into investing in either a Torino+Piemonte Card or a Piedmont: Royal Card, which both offer access to the Turin royal palaces and residences. The Royal Card also offers access to the outer-lying residences in the region. Useful if you’re planning day trips outside the city.  

 With that being said, here are the seven must-visited royal residences and palaces in Turin that are within the city limits. 

1 – The Palazzo Reale (The Royal Palace of Turin)

Although the Royal Palace in Turin operates as a series of museums today, it was actually the seat of power for the Savoys for at least two centuries. It’s regarded as one of the best-preserved historical royal residences in Europe.  

Through its existence, it’s undergone several additional construction projects. Designed by numerous top architects of their time, it is a superb monument to European architectural history. Probably the most famous addition to the palace is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, which was built to house the Holy Shroud of Jesus

Another world-famous part of the palace is the Royal Armory. It’s a superb collection of military weapons dating from prehistory to the 19th Century. Weapons enthusiasts will want to spend lots of time here, admiring more than 5000 items.

To really get into the history of the palace and its interior, you should consider a guided small-group tour of the palace.  

You can also read more about the Royal Palace and the Royal Armory here.  

Royal Palace Visitor information: 

Palazzo Reale, Piazzetta Reale, 1, 10122 Turin

Opening hours: 09:00 – 19:00 (Tuesday to Sunday – closed on Mondays)

Note that some sections of the Palace may be closed at different times. 

Admission:  €15

Palazzo Reale official website

Turin, Palazzo Madama, Italy

2 – Palazzo Madama

The main city square in Turin – The Piazza Castello, where the Royal Palace is found – also houses the Palazzo Madama. Its location used to be a gate to the city in Roman times. Over the years it developed into a castle, and eventually a residence under the Savoys in the 1600s. 

Amazingly, little pieces of that impressive history are still preserved to be viewed by visitors today. The unique combination of Medieval, Baroque and Neoclassical influences make the palace rather striking, looking like a castle from some angles. Its intended redesign under the Savoys was only half-finished, leaving the medieval towers intact.

It was first used as an official residence by Christine Marie of France in 1637. Since then it’s also been used as a high court and an art gallery. Today it houses the Museo Civico d’Arte Antica fine art museum.

Palazzo Madama Visitor information: 

Palazzo Madama, Piazza Castello, 10122 Turin

Opening hours: Thursday and Friday from 12: 00 to 19:00; Saturday and Sunday from 10: 00 to 19:00. Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Admission: €10 (Free on the first Wednesday of every month)

Tel: 011 443 3501

Palazzo Madama official website

 3 – Palazzo Carignano

The Carigano’s main claim to fame is that it hosts the largest single exhibition dedicated to the unification of Italy. The events that led to that unification – known as the Risorgimento – are complex. But the appropriately titled Museum of the Risorgimento does a great job of expressing all of those complexities.

The palace’s origins, however, are as a residence for the Prince of Carignano, built in 1679. It is also the birthplace of two future Savoy monarchs: Carlo Alberto (1798) and Vittorio Emanuele II (1820). Later, it became Sardinia’s house of parliament.

In addition to the museum, visitors can see the Prince of Carignano’s Mezzogiorno and Mezzanotte apartments on the lower floors. The spectacular wood paneling and frescoes on display here are well worth a visit for anyone interested in baroque decor and beauty. And keep in mind that Palazzo Carignano is just a few minutes away from Palazzo Madama, so you can try to visit both on the same day.

Palazzo Carignano Visitor information: 

Museo del Risorgimento, Via Accademia delle Scienze, 5, 10123 TorinoOpening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Admission: €10

Museum of risorgimento official website

4 – Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi

Stupinigi’s palazzina is actually a hunting lodge, located just a few miles outside of Turin. It was first commissioned in 1729, as an old castle to be repurposed for royal hunting getaways, as the surrounding land was rich in game.

Occasionally, the palace would also be used for special events like royal weddings, which made it quite a popular retreat for the Savoy family. Look out for the bronzer stag adorning the dome and the lavishly painted interiors.   

The geometric gardens and surrounding woods and agricultural land are now part of a protected park. Visitors are able to enjoy the local plant life, some of which is no longer widely found.

Stupinigi Palace is also a museum, with different expositions from classical to contemporary art. It’s worth checking the official website before visiting and you might end up spending the whole day between elegant rooms, lush gardens and art. 

This is one of Turin’s palaces that are a bit far from the city center, but you can get there using public transportation, so no reason to skip this visit.

Stupinigi Palace Visitor information: 

Hunting Lodge of Stupinigi, Piazza Principe Amedeo 7, 10042 Nichelino (TO)

Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:30 (Tuesday to Friday) / 10.00 – 18.30 (Saturday and Sunday). Closed on Mondays

Admission: €12.00

Palazzina di Stupinigi official website 

5 – Castello del Valentino

The Valentino Palace or Valentino Castle, as some people call it, was first built as a home for a princess. It is significantly smaller than most of the other palaces in Turin, but it is nonetheless impressive in design. It is believed that the building took its name from a nearby church.

The building is not technically open to the public like other residences, as it is used today as a school – the Architecture Faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin. It’s located in the middle of Paco Valentino, or Valentino Park, one of the Turin’s most beautiful parks.

But there is limited access on certain days, by way of specifically guided tours. Other times, you may be able to simply enter the gate and admire the building from the outside. If not, it’s still worthwhile to take a stroll next to River Po and through Valentino Park to admire it from afar and perhaps snap a few pictures.

Valentino Castle Visitor Information:

Castello del Valentino, Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli 39, 10126 Turin

Opening Hours: By booking only – 10:00 and 11:30 guided tours on the first, second and third Saturdays of the month.

Admission: Free, but bookings essential at least 8 days in advance.

Castello del Valentino official website

6 – Venaria Reale

In terms of excitement and activity, the Venaria Reale may be the most engaging former royal residence in Turin. There are performances, temporary exhibitions and cultural events here almost every day, as well as an expansive royal garden to enjoy. 

Perhaps its location – about 5 miles from the city center, is what adds to the leisure-focused feel of the palace. It is no less regal in its history, though. Originally intended as an opulent hunting base for a Duke, it was under continuous construction throughout its history.

Interestingly, it was used for military purposes up until as late as 1978. You may want to learn more about this on a Venaria Palace Guided Tour. It’s a really fascinating part of Turin’s history.

The best part is that you get to Venaria Reale easily, by shuttle bus or by public transportation. 

Venaria Reale Visitor Information: 

Palace of Venaria, Piazza della Repubblica 4, 10078 Venaria Reale (TO)

Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (Tuesday to Friday) / 10:00 to 19:00 (Saturday and Sunday) / Closed on Mondays except when a public holiday 

Please note that certain sections of the Palace may be closed at different times.

Admission: €20 for a combined ticket (the Reggia and the Gardens and The Castle of La Mandria)

Venaria reale official website

7 – Villa della Regina

This royal residence is strongly associated with Anne Marie d’Orléans, the wife of Vittorio Amedeo II, the Duke of Savoy. The name Villa della Regina translates as Villa of the Queen. 

 In truth, the villa passed through many owners’ hands, although most of what can be seen today is considered to be from Anne Marie’s time. The Villa was actually in a poor state of disrepair for many years until 1994, when a project to restore it was undertaken. 

Today the grounds also operate as a vineyard, and visitation is subject to booking. If you visit Turin during October you can witness the Vendemmia, that is the harvesting of grapes in the Villa della Regina vineyard, one of a few urban wine plantations in Europe. Undoubtedly it’s an experience like no other.  

Villa della Regina Visitor Information: 

Villa della Regina, Strada S. Margherita 79, 10131 Turin

Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Closed on Mondays) / Special opening hours are scheduled on Mondays.

Admission: Full ticket €7; Free on the first Sunday of every month (October through March); Booking required for all tickets

Villa della Regina official website

Get to See How the Royals Lived

The palaces and residences of the Kingdom of Savoy offer a fascinating insight into how the royals of Piedmont and the Savoys, in particular, might have lived. 

Whether the Royal palaces inside the city or the hunting getaways just outside the gates, the influence that the palaces had on Italian history is still on proud display today. And to be honest, a trip to Turin is not complete without a visit to one, two, or maybe all of the royal residences and palaces in Turin. 

You can find more tips about what to do in Turin here, if you are looking for accommodation, then check our page about where to stay in Turin. Tips to get to Turin and around are here. Now you are covered!