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Surrounded by a park with centuries-old trees and large greenhouses, Agliè Castle, in the province of Turin, is a triumph of elegance and splendour in over 300 rooms, with a wealth of furnishings and precious collections, including paintings, archaeological finds, ornithological and oriental items and relics.

The castle history is seven centuries-long: it was, in fact, built in several phases starting in 1100, first as a fortification with a tower, a courtyard and a moat by the San Martino family; later on, in 1646, Count Filippo San Martino, probably contracting Amedeo di Castellamonte, transformed the part facing the garden and built the courtyard of San Massimo, two parallel galleries and the chapel of San Massimo (on a pre-existing chapel).

The Castle thus acquired a symmetrical layout, with a terraced garden and supporting walls with niches. In 1763, purchased by the House of Savoy, it was massively renovated, both inside and outside, thanks to a project by the architect Birago di Borgaro; several artists participated as well such as Collino (for the statues of the fountains), Bolina (for the stuccoes and the decorations of the great hunting hall), and Michel Benard (for the garden).
Later, during Napoleon times, the Castle was transformed into a Mendicity shelter, while the park was divided and sold to private individuals. In 1823, having returned to the royal possessions, it was again transformed by Carlo Felice who entrusted its restoration to Michele Borda di Saluzzo.
Artists such as Paolo Cremona and Giacomo Spalla took care of the interiors, the garden and a small theatre in the “Galleria dei Marmi”.
In the second half of the XIX century, other interventions were made to the “Green Gallery” and the park, which was transformed into an English garden.

The park

The park is the final result of the different construction phases. Having become the property of the Italian State, since 1939 the park was reclaimed and restored with never-ending interventions.
The oldest part near the castle, with a XVII century layout, was reorganized on three terraces, with flower beds, citrus fruit pots, dovecotes, fountains, statues placed within niches and a large parterre of box hedges.

The English-style park, built in the second half of the XIX century, seems to have originated from an ancient XVIII century Italian design, which has now disappeared.
Rich in tall plants including plane trees, white hornbeams ( Carpinus betulus ) and red oaks, it now develops beyond the large horseshoe-shaped fountain and continues after the “Gran Prato” with paths leading to a lake with two branches – each one with a small islet.
Right there, there’s a relax pavilion – once featuring some beautiful frescoes – a wooden pier, and some archaeological finds.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)