Govone Castle
Description
Govone Castle is located in the town of Govone, in the province of Cuneo. It was a royal residence of the House of Savoy from 1792 to 1870. Since 1997, it's been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Savoy Residences' and now serves as the town hall.
History
A medieval fortress once stood on the site. In the late 1600s, the Solaro family commissioned architect Guarino Guarini to expand and beautify it, though his plans were completed later by Benedetto Alfieri. Acquired by the Savoy family in 1792, the castle became a summer residence. King Charles Felix and Queen Maria Cristina restored it and redesigned the gardens in Italian style. Notably, philosopher Rousseau stayed there in 1730. By the late 1800s, it became property of the municipality.
Since 2007, it's part of the 'Castelli Doc' network, which includes several notable castles in Piedmont.
Description
A highlight is the grand double staircase, adorned with sculptures from the Venaria Reale gardens. The castle also features Chinese wallpaper and frescoes, including a ballroom painted with scenes of Niobe by Luigi Vacca and Fabrizio Sevesi.