Agliè Castle

About

Agliè Castle (Italian: Castello ducale di Agliè; Piedmontese: Castel ducal d'Ajé) is a castle located in Agliè, Piedmont, Italy. The castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 as part of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

History: In the 16th century, the fortress still retained a medieval appearance, featuring a central keep, a courtyard surrounded by rural buildings and a garden, all enclosed by a sturdy defensive wall and a moat. In 1667, Count Filippo of San Martino, who had served as a counselor to the Christine of France, commissioned the royal architect Amedeo di Castellamonte to redesign the garden-facing façade, the complex of the chapel of San Massimo, the two galleries, and the courtyard. Upon his death, the project was interrupted, but the castle already had two courtyards (one internal and one facing the village of Agliè) and an eastern façade with the two towers transformed into small pavilions. In 1764, the Counts of San Martino sold the property to the House of Savoy. The castle was thus included it among the holdings of Prince Benedetto, Duke of Chablais. The architect Ignazio Renato Birago di Borgaro was entrusted with its renovation, which...