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Located in Pinerolo, inside one of the largest private parks in Piedmont, Villa il Torrione is the result of numerous interventions that have taken place over the centuries. Its construction dates back to the mid-1500s, on a previous structure known since the Middle Ages.

Originally made by a keep with a crenellated tower, surrounded by walls with cylindrical towers, after several changes of ownership it passed to the Canera di Salasco counts in the mid-1600s; the new owners gave it its current appearance over the course of two centuries.

In the early XIX century, further changes were made, inside and outside the building; in particular, the noble residence was eventually separated from the medieval farmhouses. Architects Ignazio Michela, Antonelli, Mainoni and Clerichetti worked on this very modification, while the Prussian landscape designer Xavier Kurten (who was contracted for several similar interventions by the Royal House of Savoy and many local nobles), applied the romantic model of English origin, “recreating nature” and enhancing the beauty of the surrounding environment.

Among the most valuable features of the castle, there are the vestibule, with XVII century niches, the ovoid ballroom, with a marble mosaic floor, the rooms decorated with mythological themes, and the ancient family chapel.

The park

After decades of neglect, the 50-acre park was returned to its original splendour by architect Paolo Pejrone, as a rare example of a perfectly preserved relic of the past.

The whole property is surrounded by a wall, but the designer opened a view on the southern countryside at the bottom of the clearing towards the Chiusone River; instead of protecting the property with another piece of wall, an impassable moat was build – a typical “ha-ha” (a hidden vertical barrier which preserves an uninterrupted view of the landscape beyond).

A large central clearing extends in front of the building, along the entire length of the land, where today a beautiful flock of Texel sheep graze peacefully. Some visual “cones” were opened among the groves 180 years ago; there are large oaks, linden trees, horse chestnuts, plane trees, ash trees, Gingko biloba, magnolias, poplars, hornbeams, tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), crisscrossed by small avenues of common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Lebanon cedars (Cedrus libani), pines, firs, and cryptomeria.
Along the shores of the lake, there are many bald cypresses (Taxodium distichum).
A “Celtic temple” was also erected in the park, designed by Kurten and now inhabited by a family of geese.

After the restoration of Pejorne, hollies, bamboos and large groups of hydrangeas were planted, including Hydrangea arborescens “Annabelle” in the shady areas, and Hydrangea macrophylla “M.me Emile Mouillire” near the villa.
To the north of the latter, the design of the park becomes more formal, with a large elliptical lawn placed on the axis of the long ancient avenue of hornbeams (Carpinus betulus) dating back to the original design by Kurten.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)