The Art Newspaper is currently featuring an article by Anna Somers Cocks about the restoration of Venaria Reale, the Savoy Royal Palace near Turin. Built between the 16th and the 18th centuries, Venaria Reale was 1 and 1/2 times the size of Versailles, but the Savoy family fled the luxurious building in 1798 when Napoleon and his troops stormed the Italian peninsula. The Savoy were never again to live in Venaria Reale and over the years it suffered misuse and abuse. Now, however, thanks to the efforts of the city of Turin; Walter Veltroni, Italy’s minister of culture; and Unesco a massive restoration campaign has been undertaken. The project is described in the Art Newspaper:
For the last ten years, Venaria has been the biggest specialised building site in the world, with 800 skilled workers and 200 art and architectural historians and assorted experts.
What to do with a restored royal palace of massive proportions? That seems to be one of the problems that Turin is now facing. From 13 October to 30 March 2008, the 1.4 kilometer stretch of rooms in the palace will house a major exhibition called, “The Reggia of Venaria and the Savoias: Art, Magnificence and the History of a European Court.”
The Art Newspaper gives a preview of the show:
It is essentially an historical show about this largely forgotten dynasty from the laster 16th to the end of the 18th century, during which time it married and fought its way up from being dukes to becoming minor monarchs in 1713 by lending its efficient little army to whichever of the wartime coalitions of major powers looked most likely to further its ambitions.
To further help with the popularization of Venaria Reale as a tourist destination, director Peter Greenaway has created a film called “Peopling the Palace” which shows the palace as a bustling hunting lodge, filled with Savoy royals and their court.
For more information on Venaria and its restoration, see the Art Newspaper article by Anna Somers Cocks or the Venaria Reale website.
