Royal Residences: Turin's UNESCO Crown Jewels

Italy is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, holding 58 sites. Despite its four UNESCO recognitions, there is only one main Turin UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Royal Residences of the House of Savoy.😍

Turin was the first capital of Italy and home to the House of Savoy, a royal dynasty established in 1003 that ruled up until 1946. Read to learn about the residences, which ones should be on your “must-visit in Turin” list, and how you can visit them all for free!🤩

Disclaimer: This post has affiliate links that can help me earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. If you click through and buy with these links, thank you in advance for the extra support.💖😊

Table of Contents

The Royal Residences of the House of Savoy

A total of 22 buildings compose the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy World Heritage Site, and 11 of them are in the city center of Turin. The residences are split into three categories: the Zona di Comando, the Corona di Delizie, and the 19th-century holiday resorts. The Zona di Comando consists of buildings created to conduct political, administrative, and cultural activities. The Corona di Delizie consists of residencies dedicated to relaxing, parties, and hunting.

If you are planning to visit Turin, here are the Royal residences to not miss! Ps. Most of these are right in the Center, so you will be able to see them all by walking around the city.

Palazzo Reale (Zona di Comando)

💸 Price: 15 euros
- Free entrance with Torino + Piemonte card
- Guided Tour
📍 Location: Piazzetta Reale, 1, 10122 Torino TO, Italy

This is the Royal Palace of Turin, once the hub of the Court and political power, and is one of the most iconic residences of Turin. This palace dates back to the 16th century and went through some modernization throughout the years. In the 17th century, Christine of France modernized it with the help of Filippo Juvara; in the 18th century, Pelagio Palagi modernized it.

Palazzo Madama (Zona di Comando)

💸 Price: 10 euros
- Free entrance with Torino + Piemonte card
📍 Location: P.za Castello, 10122 Torino TO, Italy

Photo Credit: © Claudio Divizia on Canva.com

This is one of the most representative buildings of Piedmont, if not Italy, and is in Piazza Castello.

The Palazzo Madama gets its name from the Madame Reali and dates back to the mid-1600s. The Madame Reali projected the construction of the grand staircase and elegant facade. Filippo Juvarra, an important architect of Turin, finished Madame’s project in 1718.

Facciata del Teatro Regio (Zona di Comando)

✨ Events
📍 Location: P.za Castello, 215, 10124 Torino TO, Italy

Teatro Regio dates back to the early 18th century and is the most prestigious theatre in Turin. Vittorio Amedeo II hired Filippo Juvarra to create a grand theatre for the reorganization of Piazza Castello. the piazza that is home to Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama.

When Filippo Juvarra passed away, King Carlo Emanuele III entrusted the project to Benedetto Alfieri. Since 1740, Teatro Regio has been a very prestigious theatre where people attend ballet shows, concerts, and more.

Palazzo Carignano (Zona di Comando)

💸 Price: 5 euros
📍 Location: Via Accademia delle Scienze, 5, 10123 Torino TO, Italy

This is one of the most representative buildings of Piedmont, if not Italy, and is in Piazza Castello. The Palazzo Madama gets its name from the Madame Reali and dates back to the mid-1600s.

The Madame Reali projected the construction of the grand staircase and elegant facade. Filippo Juvarra finished Madame’s project in 1718.

Now, people can visit the Museum of the Risorgimento and the rooms of the Princes’ apartments.

Castello del Valentino (Corona di Delizie)

💸 Price: Free Guided Tours
📍 Location: Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli, 39, 10125 Torino TO, Italy
🗺️ How to Get There: 30 minute walk from Piazza San Carlo

Emmanuel Philibert bought this residence in 1564 after his official arrival in Piedmont. Later on, Christine of France commissioned Carlo di Castellamonte to reconstruct the place into a Maison de Plaisance. This explains why the castle shares similarities with French architecture.

The Castle is named “del Valentino” because of the word “Vallantinum“, the geomorphological nature of its land. Throughout time, this castle became the Royal School of Application for Engineers and the Royal Industry Museum.

This is about a 15-minute walk from the center, in the beautiful Parco del Valentino.

Reggia di Venaria Reale (Corona di Delizie)

💸 Price: 16 euros
- Free entrance with Torino + Piemonte card
- Guided Tour
📍 Location: Piazza della Repubblica, 4, 10078 Venaria Reale TO, Italy
🗺️ How to Get There: Venaria Express

This is the most famous and grandiose residence, which dates back to the mid-17th century. The Reggia is one of the finest examples of universal Baroque and is mainly known for its breathtaking Great Gallery. In addition to the splendor of the palace’s architecture, the Reggia is also surrounded by the most beautiful gardens and views of the Alps.

This is outside of the city center but is a short commute and is ABSOLUTELY worth visiting. For the commute, with a Torino + Piemonte Card you will get a discount on transportation – read more at the end of the page!

Grande Galleria — Reggia di Venaria Reale

Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi (Corona di Delizie)

💸 Price: 13.80 euros
- Free entrance with Torino + Piemonte card
📍 Location: Piazza Principe Amedeo, 7, 10042 Stupinigi, Nichelino TO, Italy
🗺️ How to Get There:

This was the Savoy’s main hunting lodge and it is nothing short of a work of art. Along with many of the other Royal Residences, this lodge was designed by Filippo Juvarra, and its construction ended in 1733.

Similar to Reggia di Venaria Reale, the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi is located a little over 30 minutes outside of the city center. It is absolutely worth visiting!

Dive Deeper in History with Guided Tours

Here are three best guided tours you can take through some of the Royal Residences of Turin. Save your spot today for your favorite residence!👇

Visit the Royal Residences for Free with the Torino + Piemonte Card!

That’s right, with the Torino + Piemonte card, you can visit all the Royal residences for free and get discounts on the commute to those that are outside the city center. When purchasing this card, you will be asked to choose how many days you want it to count for– from 1 day all the way to 5 days.

Important Note: The 24-hour card only allows up to 3 free entrances. Due to this, I highly recommend a 2-Day or 3-Day card.

Keep reading about Turin

Here are other blog posts that will help you out on your Turin travels!👇

Still need to book your stay in Turin? Here are the Best Hotels to Stay at!👇

1. Turin Palace Hotel. This is the perfect stay for those looking for a luxurious and charming experience. One of my favorite parts of this stay is their terrace and stunning views over Turin, along with the spectacular interior design.

2. NH Turin Center Hotel. This is the perfect stay for those looking for a lovely hotel stay but are more on budget. In my experience, you can never go wrong with the NH Hotels.

Want more help with your travels? Check out my services!

One of the main reasons I became I travel blogger is my love and passion for helping others experience the best of their destination. I offer three services on Thatch: Customized Itineraries, Customized Recommendations, and Consultation Calls.

Do you want customized recommendations for your Turin trip? Or want to talk with a local and ask your travel questions? If so, I am here for you! Check out my Thatch page and book my services.

📌 Liked it? Pin it!

I have to ask…

Which of these Royal Residences would you visit, and what Torino + Piemonte card will you choose?

Share this with family and friends who would find this helpful!👇

Visiting so many beautiful works of art will get you hungry – here are the best foods to have in Turin.😋

The Must-Visit Royal Residences of Turin, Italy