Discover Piedmont’s Royal House of Savoy Heritage

In the heart of Piedmont, in north-west Italy, lies a heritage system unlike any other in Europe: the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy. These are the former homes of the Savoy dynasty, the noble family that governed this area for centuries before going on to reign over a united Italy. Recognised by UNESCO since 1997, the 16 historic residences chart the long political, architectural and cultural story of a dynasty that helped shape the birth of modern Italy.

Urban palaces, castles, villas of delight, parks and gardens together form a “crown” of sites built between the 16th and 19th centuries as expressions of power, prestige and courtly life in Europe. From the Royal Palace of Turin to La Venaria Reale, from Racconigi Castle to the Hunting Lodge of Stupinigi, from Agliè Castle to Villa della Regina, each residence preserves part of a larger story, one that weaves together architecture, landscape, politics, gastronomy and innovation.

This heritage now has a new identity: the Italian Royal Experience, a concept that reimagines how the residences and their surrounding territories are told and explored, set within an unmistakably recognisable Piedmont: Turin, Italy’s understated and elegant first capital, and the city where FIAT was founded; the Alps, rising above 4,000 metres; the source of the Po, Italy’s longest river; and the wine-growing hills of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, themselves a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rather than presenting Savoy heritage as a string of individual monuments to be admired in isolation, the Italian Royal Experience frames the residences as a living cultural system, connecting palaces, towns, landscapes, local communities and contemporary culture.

At its heart is a simple idea: these residences are not just places of memory, they are spaces where past and present meet, where visitors can follow their own interests, whether it’s art, architecture, nature, cinema, gastronomy, the history of influential women, local traditions, walking trails or encounters with local communities.

Here, royalty is reinterpreted not as distance or ceremony, but as an Italian way of living: beauty, elegance, the pleasure of slow discovery, a distinctive form of hospitality, and a deep connection to landscape. It is an invitation to discover Savoy Piedmont as a surprisingly modern destination.

The Italian Royal Experience presents the destination as a constellation: each residence keeps its own identity while contributing to a wider itinerary, with individual sites enriched by their connection to the surrounding area. Central to this are the Royal Community Tours, urban and territorial itineraries in which professional guides introduce visitors to local “ambassadors”: residents, artisans, volunteers and living memories of the towns that grew up around the Savoy residences.

Through their voices, royal heritage moves beyond the state rooms and out into squares, workshops, historic cafés, gardens, theatres, vineyards and streets, creating a living, participatory experience that turns a visit into something memorable.

Italian Royal Experience is built around four major themes, each shaping its own thematic tour.

Gardens and Parks - Nature, History and Beauty: The residences form an extraordinary green landscape: formal and rose gardens, romantic parks, urban vineyards and sweeping Baroque vistas all speak to the relationship between court and nature. From the spring blossom at La Venaria Reale to the rose gardens of Govone, and the parks of Racconigi and Agliè to Turin’s urban gardens, this theme offers seasonal experiences blending botany, architecture and memory.

Female Power - The Women who Shaped History: Queens, duchesses, princesses and other influential women played a decisive role in Savoy Piedmont’s political, and cultural history. From Christine of France to Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours, from Anne Marie d’Orléans to Queen Margherita, this theme reframes the residences as places shaped, and often led, by women at court, weaving together biography, architecture, diplomacy and fashion.

Lights, Camera, Action! - The Residences as Grand Film Sets: Turin and Piedmont have long-standing ties to cinema, and the Royal Residences have frequently served as filming locations, standing in for European courts and historic settings in Italian and international productions. La Venaria Reale, the Hunting Lodge of Stupinigi, Agliè Castle and the Royal Palace form a route for lovers of film, television drama and visual storytelling.

At the Table - Taste, Etiquette and the Court’s Gastronomic Legacy: Savoy culture is also a culture of taste. The residences were centres of agricultural production, culinary experimentation and the codification of table etiquette. This theme explores historic wines, royal kitchens, court recipes, chocolate, the Merenda Reale (a royal afternoon tea), and Turin’s historic cafés, from the urban vineyard at Villa della Regina to Pollenzo, and the Royal Palace kitchens to Piedmont’s confectionery heritage.

The Italian Royal Experience is aimed at travellers seeking meaningful, high-quality cultural journeys in destinations that combine major landmarks with lesser-known discoveries. Savoy Piedmont offers exactly this within a compact, layered territory: Turin, first capital of the Kingdom of Italy; UNESCO-listed royal residences and castles; wine landscapes; historic villages; gastronomic traditions; cultural events; film locations; and a wealth of walking routes and themed itineraries.

With the Italian Royal Experience, the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy are no longer simply heritage to be admired, they are a destination to be explored, savoured, listened to and lived: an Italian royal experience that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in Piedmontese culture and tradition.

The new programme of guided tours dedicated to the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy and their surrounding territories began on Saturday 27 June 2026, with 40 guided itineraries.

The tours are available as half-day or full-day experiences, on foot or by bus, with food and wine experiences included: a tasting or Merenda Reale® for half-day tours, and lunch for full-day tours.