Govone, comune del Roero situato sulla sponda sinistra del Tanaro a metà strada tra Alba ed Asti, ospita un castello da sempre ha un legame indissolubile con la città.
Luogo importante dal punto di vista commerciale grazie alla sua posizione favorevole, era già frequentato in epoca romana.
La sua notorietà acquista rilevanza nel Medioevo con la famiglia dei Conti Solaro che fecero erigere una fortezza medioevale con bastioni e torri angolari posto sulla collina più alta in modo che dominasse sia il paese che la valle del Tanaro.
I Solaro mantennero il feudo fino al 1792 quando morì senza lasciare eredi il Conte Amedeo Lodovico Solaro.
A quel punto il castello passò allo Stato e successivamente venne acquistato da Vittorio Amedeo III di Savoia per i suoi figli.
Abbandonato e caduto in rovina durante il periodo napoleonico, fu riacquistato nel 1820 dai Conti Alfieri di San Martino per restituirlo alla Corona Sabauda nella persona di Carlo Felice, che ne una delle sue residenze estive preferite.
Con la sua morte i diritti di successione passarono a Carlo Alberto e successivamente a Ferdinando duca di Genova.
Nel 1870 il Castello Reale di Govone e gli annessi vennero venduti a privati e solo nel 1897 fu acquistato dal Comune di Govone che, però mise all’asta tutti i mobili e gli oggetti che conteneva.
Da 1997 fa parte delle Residenze Sabaude Piemontesi, dichiarate dall'UNESCO Patrimonio dell'Umanità.
L'edificio nelle forme che conosciamo attualmente è dovuto ad un profondo rifacimento avvenuto nel 1600 e voluto dal Conte Roberto Solaro e dal nipote Ottavio Francesco Solaro.
Fautore del progetto iniziale fu Guarino Guarini, uno dei massimi esponenti del barocco piemontese.
La sua opera fu continuata da Benedetto Alfieri, discepolo di Filippo Juvarra.
Il Castello Reale di Govone è un edificio barocco a tre piani, di cui l'ultimo d'altezza minore, fiancheggiato ad est da un giardino pensile con siepi di bosso, aiuole e fontane e circondato da un grande parco all’inglese.
I piani sono collegati tra di loro da eleganti scaloni e passaggi discretamente celati utilizzati dalla servitù.
La maestosa facciata, affiancata da due ali sporgenti in mattoni rossi, è ricca di decorazioni e statue.
Colpisce sopratutto lo scalone monumentale in marmo con quattro rampe dotate di balaustre e ornate da bassorilievi ed enormi telamoni e cariatidi che Carlo Felice fece arrivare dal Castello di Venaria Reale.
Gli interni sono spettacolari.
Il percorso di visita inizia passando sotto lo scalone d'onore dove si trova l'atrio accanto a cui partono due scale gemelle che conducono ai piani superiori.
Salendo a destra si arriva alla Galleria di Levante affrescata con temi da affrescata da Andrea Piazza e Carlo Pagani
con temi classicheggianti facendo uso di effetti di illusionismo ottico.
Da qui si accede agli Appartamenti della Regina composti da più ambienti di cui uno con accesso alla camera da letto del Re.
Anche i successivi Appartamenti del Re comprendono più stanze ed hanno accessi separati per la servitù.
Entrambi gli appartamenti, che ospitarono la famiglia reale agli inizi dell'800, hanno pitture che riprendono scene della mitologia classica e pavimenti lignei, mentre il mobilio originale è andato in parte perso.
La visita prosegue nel Salone d’Onore affrescato interamente a trompe-l’oeil all'inizio dell'Ottocento Luigi Vacca e Fabrizio Sevesi. La decorazione riproduce il mito di Niobe, alle pareti sono affrescate colonne in chiaroscuro e immagini di Niobe e i suoi figli con un effetto che da l'impressione di trovarsi di fronte ad un'opera scultorea.
Una meraviglia!
Lasciato il Salone d’Onore si passa alla settecentesca Galleria del Priore con parete decorate da stucchi e ritratti.
Dopo aver attraversato la Cappella di S. Cristina si arriva alla Galleria di Ponente, anch'essa come l'altra, decorata da Andrea Piazza e Carlo Pagani usando tecniche di illusione ottica.
La Galleria di Ponente introduce a quella che secondo noi è la parte più bella della visita del Castello Reale di Govone : le Sale Cinesi.
Questi appartamenti, composti da quattro sale e destinati ad ospitare principi e principesse in visita a corte, sono tappezzati con preziose carte cinesi probabilmente d'origine settecentesca, espressione della moda del tempo. I disegni raffigurano artigiani del the, della porcellana, della seta, del riso e soggetti floreali.
Per la singolarità del tema dei disegni e per l'ampiezza di superficie occupata le Sale Cinesi del Castello Reale di Govone sono tra gli esempi più significativi in Occidente.
Il percorso di visita degli interni termina scendendo al piano terra, nuovamente nell'atrio, ma è possibile proseguire il giro esplorando i giardini ed il parco.
Il giardino settecentesco all'italiana fu fatto realizzare dai Solaro sul terrazzamento all’interno delle mura medioevali rispettando regole architettoniche di simmetria e seguendo forme geometriche.
Il parco all'inglese fu voluto, invece, da Carlo Felice di Savoia su progetto di Xavier Kurten che realizzò un'area verde libera da vincoli dove la bellezza della paesaggio naturale selvaggio si alternava a fontane, sculture nascoste, cascate.
Molte erano le specie arboree coltivate, tutte inventariate, come ippocastani, platani, querce, muscari e delle pervinche e tulipani. Specie presenti ancor oggi e che colorano in ogni stagione il parco del Castello Reale di Govone.
In occasione della fioritura dei tulipani ogni anno si festeggia l'arrivo della primavera con la manifestazione "Tulipani a Corte" in cui si organizzano visite guidate al Castello, concerti, mostre d’arte, esposizioni, spettacoli all’aperto, sfilate in costume d'epoca, degustazioni di vini e prodotti tipici.
Tra le piante che crescevano nel giardino reale del 1800 c'era anche una collezione di rose che nel 2003 è stata in parte riallestita seguendo la documentazione dell'antico inventario. Si trova dietro la Chiesa barocca dello Spirito Santo.
Il parco aveva anche un'aranciera, una serra che ora è stata restaurata ed è adibita a sala per convegni e manifestazioni.
Le ex scuderie del Castello Reale di Govone ospitano, invece, un raffinato ristorante.
Un'occasione speciale per visitare il castello può essere quella del Magico Paese di Natale, quando Govone si trasforma in un villaggio di Natale, con elfi, presepi, Babbo Natale e numerose iniziative per grandi e piccini.
Govone Royal Castle in Roero
Govone, a municipality in Roero located on the left bank of the Tanaro at halfway between Alba and Asti, hosts a castle that has always had an indissoluble bond with the town.
Important place from a commercial point of view thanks to its favorable position, it was already frequented in Roman times.
Its notoriety acquires relevance in the Middle Ages with the oSolaro Counts family who built a medieval fortress with bastions and corner towers placed on the highest hill so that it could dominated both the town than the Tanaro valley.
The Solaro family kept the fiefdom until 1792 when Count Amedeo Lodovico Solaro died leaving no heirs.
At that point the castle passed to the State and was subsequently purchased by Vittorio Amedeo III of Savoy for his sons.
Abandoned and fallen into ruins during the Napoleonic period, it was bought back in 1820 by the Counts Alfieri di San Martino to return it to the Savoy Crown in the person of Carlo Felice, that made the castle one of his favorite summer residences.
With his death the succession rights passed to Carlo Alberto and subsequently to Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa.
In 1870 the Govone Royal Castle and the annexes were sold to private individuals and only in 1897 it was purchased by the Municipality of Govone which, however, auctioned all the furniture and objects it contained.
Since 1997 it has been part of the Piedmontese Savoy residences, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The building in the forms we know today is due to a profound renovation which took place in 1600 and commissioned by Count Roberto Solaro and his nephew Ottavio Francesco Solaro.
The initiator of the first project was Guarino Guarini, one of the greatest exponents of Piedmontese Baroque.
His work was continued by Benedetto Alfieri, a disciple of Filippo Juvarra.
The Govone Royal Castle is a three-storey Baroque building, of which the last one of lesser height, flanked to the east by a hanging garden with box hedges, flower beds and fountains and surrounded by a large English park.
The floors are connected to each other by elegant stairways and discreetly hidden passages used by the servants.
The majestic facade, flanked by two protruding red brick wings, is rich in decorations and statues.
Particularly striking is the monumental marble staircase with four ramps equipped with balustrades and decorated with bas-reliefs and huge telamons and caryatids that Carlo Felice sent from Venaria Reale Castle.
The interiors are spectacular.
The tour begins by passing under the staircase of honor where is located the atrium next to which two twin stairways lead to the upper floors.
Going up to the right you arrive at the Galleria di Levante frescoed with frescoed themes by Andrea Piazza and Carlo Pagani with classical themes using optical illusion effects.
From here you enter into the Queen's Apartments consisting of several rooms, one of which has a access to the King's bedroom.
The subsequent King's Apartments also comprise more rooms and have separate entrances for servants.
Both apartments, which housed the royal family at the beginning of the 19th century, have paintings depicting scenes from classical mythology and wooden floors, while the original furniture has been partly lost.
The visit continues in the Hall of Honor entirely frescoed in trompe-l'oeil at the beginning of the nineteenth century by Luigi Vacca and Fabrizio Sevesi. The decoration reproduces the myth of Niobe, on the walls are frescoed columns in chiaroscuro and images of Niobe and her children with an effect that gives the impression of being in front of a sculptural work.
Wonderful!
Leaving the Hall of Honor, you pass to the eighteenth-century Galleria del Priore with a wall decorated with stuccoes and portraits.
After passing through the Chapel of S. Cristina you arrive at the Galleria di Ponente decorated by Andrea Piazza and Carlo Pagani using optical illusion techniques like the previous one.
The Galleria di Ponente introduces what we think is the most beautiful part of the visit of the Govone Royal Castle: the Chinese Rooms.
These apartments, consisting of four rooms and intended to accommodate princes and princesses visiting the court, are covered with precious Chinese papers probably of eighteenth-century origin, an expression of the fashion of the time. The drawings depict artisans of tea, porcelain, silk, rice and floral subjects.
For the singularity of the theme of the drawings and for the amplitude of surface occupied, the Chinese Rooms of Govone Royal Castle are among the most significant examples in the West.
The tour of the interiors ends by going down to the ground floor, again in the atrium, but it is possible to continue the circuit by exploring the gardens and the park.
The eighteenth-century Italian garden was commissioned by the Solaro family on the terracing within the medieval walls, respecting architectural rules of symmetry and following geometric shapes.
project
The English park was instead wanted by Carlo Felice di Savoia on a Xavier Kurten project who created a green area free from constraints where the beauty of the wild natural landscape was alternated with fountains, hidden sculptures, waterfalls.
There were many cultivated tree species, all inventoried, such as horse chestnuts, plane trees, oaks, muscari, periwinkles and tulips. Species still present today that color the park of Govone Royal Castle in every seasons.
On the occasion of the blooming of tulips, every year the castle celebrate the arrival of spring with the "Tulips a Corte" event in which are organized guided tours, concerts, art exhibitions, exhibitions, outdoor shows, costume parades, wine and typical products tastings.
Among the plants that grew in the 1800's royal garden there was also a collection of roses which in 2003 was partially rearranged following the documentation of the ancient inventory. It is located behind the Baroque Church of the Holy Spirit.
The park also had an orangery, a greenhouse which has now been restored and is used as hall for conferences and events.
The former stables of the Govone Royal Castle host a refined restaurant.
A special occasion to visit the castle can be the Magico Paese di Natale, when Govone is transformed into a Christmas village, with elves, nativity scenes, Santa Claus and numerous initiatives for young and adults.
Govone, a municipality in Roero located on the left bank of the Tanaro at halfway between Alba and Asti, hosts a castle that has always had an indissoluble bond with the town.
Important place from a commercial point of view thanks to its favorable position, it was already frequented in Roman times.
Its notoriety acquires relevance in the Middle Ages with the oSolaro Counts family who built a medieval fortress with bastions and corner towers placed on the highest hill so that it could dominated both the town than the Tanaro valley.
The Solaro family kept the fiefdom until 1792 when Count Amedeo Lodovico Solaro died leaving no heirs.
At that point the castle passed to the State and was subsequently purchased by Vittorio Amedeo III of Savoy for his sons.
Abandoned and fallen into ruins during the Napoleonic period, it was bought back in 1820 by the Counts Alfieri di San Martino to return it to the Savoy Crown in the person of Carlo Felice, that made the castle one of his favorite summer residences.
With his death the succession rights passed to Carlo Alberto and subsequently to Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa.
In 1870 the Govone Royal Castle and the annexes were sold to private individuals and only in 1897 it was purchased by the Municipality of Govone which, however, auctioned all the furniture and objects it contained.
Since 1997 it has been part of the Piedmontese Savoy residences, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The building in the forms we know today is due to a profound renovation which took place in 1600 and commissioned by Count Roberto Solaro and his nephew Ottavio Francesco Solaro.
The initiator of the first project was Guarino Guarini, one of the greatest exponents of Piedmontese Baroque.
His work was continued by Benedetto Alfieri, a disciple of Filippo Juvarra.
The Govone Royal Castle is a three-storey Baroque building, of which the last one of lesser height, flanked to the east by a hanging garden with box hedges, flower beds and fountains and surrounded by a large English park.
The floors are connected to each other by elegant stairways and discreetly hidden passages used by the servants.
The majestic facade, flanked by two protruding red brick wings, is rich in decorations and statues.
Particularly striking is the monumental marble staircase with four ramps equipped with balustrades and decorated with bas-reliefs and huge telamons and caryatids that Carlo Felice sent from Venaria Reale Castle.
The interiors are spectacular.
The tour begins by passing under the staircase of honor where is located the atrium next to which two twin stairways lead to the upper floors.
Going up to the right you arrive at the Galleria di Levante frescoed with frescoed themes by Andrea Piazza and Carlo Pagani with classical themes using optical illusion effects.
From here you enter into the Queen's Apartments consisting of several rooms, one of which has a access to the King's bedroom.
The subsequent King's Apartments also comprise more rooms and have separate entrances for servants.
Both apartments, which housed the royal family at the beginning of the 19th century, have paintings depicting scenes from classical mythology and wooden floors, while the original furniture has been partly lost.
The visit continues in the Hall of Honor entirely frescoed in trompe-l'oeil at the beginning of the nineteenth century by Luigi Vacca and Fabrizio Sevesi. The decoration reproduces the myth of Niobe, on the walls are frescoed columns in chiaroscuro and images of Niobe and her children with an effect that gives the impression of being in front of a sculptural work.
Wonderful!
Leaving the Hall of Honor, you pass to the eighteenth-century Galleria del Priore with a wall decorated with stuccoes and portraits.
After passing through the Chapel of S. Cristina you arrive at the Galleria di Ponente decorated by Andrea Piazza and Carlo Pagani using optical illusion techniques like the previous one.
The Galleria di Ponente introduces what we think is the most beautiful part of the visit of the Govone Royal Castle: the Chinese Rooms.
These apartments, consisting of four rooms and intended to accommodate princes and princesses visiting the court, are covered with precious Chinese papers probably of eighteenth-century origin, an expression of the fashion of the time. The drawings depict artisans of tea, porcelain, silk, rice and floral subjects.
For the singularity of the theme of the drawings and for the amplitude of surface occupied, the Chinese Rooms of Govone Royal Castle are among the most significant examples in the West.
The tour of the interiors ends by going down to the ground floor, again in the atrium, but it is possible to continue the circuit by exploring the gardens and the park.
The eighteenth-century Italian garden was commissioned by the Solaro family on the terracing within the medieval walls, respecting architectural rules of symmetry and following geometric shapes.
project
The English park was instead wanted by Carlo Felice di Savoia on a Xavier Kurten project who created a green area free from constraints where the beauty of the wild natural landscape was alternated with fountains, hidden sculptures, waterfalls.
There were many cultivated tree species, all inventoried, such as horse chestnuts, plane trees, oaks, muscari, periwinkles and tulips. Species still present today that color the park of Govone Royal Castle in every seasons.
On the occasion of the blooming of tulips, every year the castle celebrate the arrival of spring with the "Tulips a Corte" event in which are organized guided tours, concerts, art exhibitions, exhibitions, outdoor shows, costume parades, wine and typical products tastings.
Among the plants that grew in the 1800's royal garden there was also a collection of roses which in 2003 was partially rearranged following the documentation of the ancient inventory. It is located behind the Baroque Church of the Holy Spirit.
The park also had an orangery, a greenhouse which has now been restored and is used as hall for conferences and events.
The former stables of the Govone Royal Castle host a refined restaurant.
A special occasion to visit the castle can be the Magico Paese di Natale, when Govone is transformed into a Christmas village, with elves, nativity scenes, Santa Claus and numerous initiatives for young and adults.
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