Castello di Moncalieri

The current layout of the Moncalieri Castle dates back to the 17th century and is the result of the expansion of a medieval fortress. In the second half of the 15th century, the building was chosen as the ducal residence by Jolanda di Valois; in 1475 the treaty between the duchess, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, was stipulated there.

Starting in 1610, Charles Emmanuel I began the expansion works of the ancient manor, continued under Victor Amadeus I and the Royal Madame Maria Christina of France: over the course of sixty years, with the intervention of architects Amedeo di Castellamonte, Andrea Costaguta, and Carlo Morello, the building took on its current configuration.

The castle was the preferred residence of Victor Amadeus II, who died there in 1732 after abdicating in favor of his son Charles Emmanuel III. During the reign of the latter, the building underwent numerous interventions, under the direction of Benedetto Alfieri; the embellishments continued during the time of Victor Amadeus III (who died in Moncalieri in 1796), with the intervention of the Messinese architect Francesco Martinez.

The arrival of the French troops caused serious damage to the building, which was used as a barracks and military hospital. In 1817, under Victor Emmanuel I, restoration operations were undertaken: it was then that the three-flight marble staircase from Carrara and the riding hall at the end of the main courtyard were built. During the Risorgimento period, the apartments of Victor Emmanuel II and Queen Maria Adelaide were refurbished and furnished according to the eclectic taste typical of the second half of the 19th century, almost completely erasing the traces of the previous centuries.

On November 20, 1849, the Proclamation of Moncalieri was signed there, countersigned by Massimo d’Azeglio, with which the king dissolved the Chamber of Deputies and had the new Chamber approve the peace treaty with Austria.

After being occupied during the Second World War by Nazi-fascists, partisans, and finally evacuees, in 1948 the complex became the seat of the I Carabinieri Battalion “Piemonte”. The royal apartments were restored and opened to the public in 1991. On April 5, 2008, the southeast tower of the Castle was hit by a violent fire that made it necessary to close the visiting route and start a new cycle of restorations. Currently, the Moncalieri Castle is not visitable but will be open again during 2016.