A new cultural and experience program will make it easier to discover the 16 UNESCO-listed residences associated with the House of Savoy. With Turin as a starting point, guided tours are offered to palaces, castles, parks and historical environments around Piedmont.
The Italian Royal Experience program was launched on June 27, 2026 in Piedmont in northwestern Italy. The initiative includes 40 guided tours, with Turin as the meeting and departure point.
At the center are the 16 residences that have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. The palaces, castles, villas and gardens were built between the 16th and 19th centuries by the House of Savoy, the princely family that ruled Piedmont for several hundred years and later became the royal house of a unified Italy.
Among the most famous buildings are the Palazzo Reale di Torino, the royal palace in the center of Turin, and the Palazzo Madama, which has been both the residence of queen dowagers and the seat of parliament. The network also includes the hunting lodges Castello della Mandria and Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, as well as the extensive palace complex Reggia di Venaria Reale, which is often compared to Versailles.
Other examples include the Villa della Regina, famous for its Italian gardens, and the Castello del Valentino, now used by the Technical University of Turin. Together, the residences form a historical network in Turin and the surrounding countryside.
Local voices broaden the story
The Italian Royal Experience will not only present the buildings as individual attractions. The tours connect the residences with the towns, villages and local traditions that have grown up around them. Architecture and royal history are interspersed with stories about gastronomy, film, crafts and women's political influence, among other things.
An important part is the Royal Community Tours, where professional guides collaborate with local ambassadors, such as residents, craftsmen, volunteers and other people with a special connection to the place.
Through their stories, the focus shifts partly from the royal salons to life outside the castle walls. Squares, workshops, cafés, theatres, vineyards and city streets thus become part of the historical narrative.
Four themes – from gardens to film
The program also includes Storie a Corte, four thematic walking tours for visitors with different interests.
The theme ”Gardens and Parks” highlights the residence’s parks and gardens, including the cherry blossoms at La Venaria Reale, the rose gardens of Govone and the parks around Racconigi and Agliè. The area’s urban vineyards are also included.
”Female Power” focuses on women who have had an impact on the political and cultural history of Savoy, while ”At the Table” focuses on Piedmont’s food culture and gastronomic heritage.
Several of the residences have also been used as filming locations for Italian and international film and television productions, as highlighted in the theme ”Lights, Camera, Action!”.
Turin is the starting point
The tours start in Turin, the first capital of unified Italy and the city where the car manufacturer Fiat was founded. From there, the history of Savoy is linked to other parts of Piedmont.
The region includes the Alps and Mount Monviso, where the Po River has its source. It is also home to the World Heritage-listed wine region of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato.
Tours are offered as half-day or full-day programs and are carried out on foot or by bus. Half-day tours include either a tasting or Merenda Reale®, a historical coffee tradition from the Court of Savoy with chocolate and regional pastries. Full-day tours include lunch.
Guided tours are available in Italian and English or Italian and French. Prices start at 29 euros for a half day and 59 euros for a full day.
More information: www.italianroyalexperience.it
Book here: www.somewhere.it
Contact: Tourism.Nordic@aviareps.com
