12 Iconic Buildings to Explore in Piedmont

Castelli di Cannero are three rocky islets of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. It appears to majestically rise from the lake’s waters, giving the impression of floating. Positioned close to the shore of the Cannero Riviera, these fascinating ruins were once part of the Rocca Vitaliana, a fortress built to defend the land from Swiss invasions. All that remains of the castle on the western islet is a ruined tower and some crumbling parts of the wall.

The castle of Agliè is one of the Residences of the royal house of Savoy declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. 1 It has the code 823-019 and is located in Piazza Castello, 2 in Agliè. This ducal castle of Agliè is an elegant and imposing construction. The construction of the central nucleus, of which the traces are still identifiable today, began in the 12th century on behalf of the San Martino family, originally from Canavese.

The castle in Grinzane Cavour is one of the best examples of the medieval architecture in the Langhe. Its present shape is the result of a complete restoring made in 1961, that has reshaped it in its original features after the many reworkings. dramatic hilltop perch and imposing watchtowers make this 13th-century fortress one of the most remarkable sights in the UNESCO-listed Le Langhe-Roero countryside.

A part-medieval, part-baroque castle built in the 13th century on the site of the old Roman gate. It was once the home of two "Royal Ladies". The first, Christine of France, had the courtyard of the medieval castle covered to create a large assembly room. The second, Marie-Jeanne-Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours, died before her extensive rebuild was completed. Known for being the first Italian Senate, Palazzo Madama is home to a beautiful collection of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissant masterpieces

The Margherita Hut is situated on Punta Gnifetti at a height of 4556m on the Monte Rosa massive. It is clearly visible from the valley and catches the eye of all who look up towards the peaks. It is the highest refuge in Europe, it houses important labor for scientific research and it is dedicated to Queen Margaret of Savoy who overnighted in 1893, the year of its inauguration.

The Mole Antonelliana is a monumental building in Turin, located in the historic center, symbol of the city and one of the symbols of Italy. The name derives from the fact that, in the past, it was the tallest brick building in the world, while its adjective derives from the architect who conceived it, Alessandro Antonelli. However, during the twentieth century, it underwent major renovations with reinforced concrete and steel beams, so it can no longer be considered a structure exclusively in

The Palatine Towers is an ancient Roman-medieval structure in Turin, Italy. The structure served as one of four Roman city gates, which allowed access from north to the cards Maximus, the typical second main street of a Roman town. They are located near the Duomo di Torino and Palazzo Reale. It represents the primary archaeological evidence of the city's Roman phase and is one of the best-preserved 1st-century BC Roman gateways in the world.

The hunting lodge of Stupinigi is a residence, originally used for the practice of hunting, built for the Savoy family between 1729 and 1733 on a project by the architect Filippo Juvarra. The site, part of the circuit of Savoy residences in Piedmont, was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. The building is located in the locality of Stupinigi, on the south-western outskirts of Turin, from whose historic center is about 10 kilometers away. In 2016 the museum complex reached 115,00

Palazzo Carignano, full name Palazzo Dei Principi di Carignano, is a historic building in the city center of Turin, a fine example of Piedmontese Baroque architecture. Together with Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, it is part of the most important historical buildings of the city and, like these, it is part of the UNESCO Residenze Savoy serial site. It was the historic seat of the Subalpine Parliament and of the first Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy.

The Park of Villa Pallavicino in Stresa is a favorite tourist attraction on Lake Maggiore, a paradise of flowers and animals to delight visitors of all ages. The Park was originally the idea of the Neapolitan statesman Ruggero Bonghi, who fell in love with Lake Maggiore and decided in 1855 to purchase the land and build a small house for himself. The estate was begun in the late 17th century by Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi, who established the Giardino botanico Clelia Durazzo Grimaldi at that time.

The Sacro Monte di Orta is part of the group of nine Alpine Sacred Mountains in Piedmont and Lombardy considered world heritage sites and is located in the municipality of Orta San Giulio in the province of Novara. Many of the artworks are of a high quality, some of the most highly thought of painters and sculptors of the period having been commissioned to produce them. The vegetation of the Sacred Mountain runs down to the shores of Lake Orta and was designed in line with ornamental criteria t

Villa Della Regina, a former Savoy Royal residence perched on the hills of Turin. It was originally built by the House of Savoy in the 17th century. Built at the behest of Maurizio of Savoy - first cardinal and then, from 1641, Prince of Oneglia - and then passed to his wife Ludovica of Savoy, it was later chosen as a summer residence first by Anna Maria d 'Orleans and then from Polissena d'Assia, queens of Sardinia, hence the name by which it is known.