La Boutique Piemonteisa

In the heart of the Piedmontese capital stands this stronghold that brought fame—amid tragedy—to Pietro Micca. The Cittadella of Turin , pride and honor of the Duchy of Savoy, was a formidable pentagonal fortress with powerful bastions at each vertex. It was located along the city walls, specifically on the southwestern side of the historic center. It was commissioned by Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy and built by the architect Francesco Paciotto between 1564 and 1577, under the supervision of General Nicolis di Robilant. With this ambitious project, the Duke aimed to modernize the city’s defenses after transferring the capital of the Duchy from Chambéry to Turin. The original design was begun by the military engineer Francesco Horologi, but it was later revised and completed by architect and engineer Francesco Paciotto. The foundation stone was laid in 1564, and the work—carried out by approximately two thousand men—was completed in 1570. The fortress was surrounded by a large dr...

A corner of unspoiled nature just a stone's throw from the Piedmontese capital.   The Lanzo Valleys are three valleys in the Graian Alps of the Piedmont region, nestled between the Orco Valley to the north and the Susa Valley to the south. They are crossed by several watercourses that flow into the Stura di Lanzo stream, from which they take their name, derived from the town of Lanzo Torinese . From north to south, the valleys are: Val Grande di Lanzo , Val d’Ala , and Valle di Viù . The Lanzo Valleys are surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Piedmont, particularly along the border with France. They are considered "closed valleys," as they lack alpine passes that connect them to neighboring Italian valleys or to France, except for a few rare exceptions. In ancient times, the area was inhabited by the Graioceli , a Celtic people originally from what is now the French valley of Maurienne, located in the Savoie department. Archaeological finds and remains of temples c...

Let’s discover this city, a crucial hub for crossing between the two slopes of the Alps. Domodossola is a charming town with a distinct medieval appearance, and it is the main city of the Ossola Valley (Piedmont). It is located on the alluvial plain of the Bogna stream, with its territory ranging between 238 and 2635 meters above sea level. As a result, the city enjoys an alpine climate, with cold winters and mild summers. Domodossola first appears in history under the name Oksela Lepontiorum , as it was, according to the geographer Claudius Ptolemy, the capital of the Lepontii, a Celtic tribe settled in the central-western Alps. Over time, it was referred to by different names: Oxilla, Domus Oxile, Burgus Domi, Burgus Domi Ossule, Domiossola, Duomo d’Ossola, Domo d’Ossola, and finally, Domodossola. The city owes its name to the fact that, in the Early Middle Ages, it was the only parish (hence “duomo”) in the Ossola Valley. Piazza del Mercato is the symbol of the city and is chara...

Let’s discover this stunning Savoy residence in Piedmont, in all its magnificence. The Royal Castle of Racconigi is located in the province of Cuneo, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Construction began in the 11th century, and over time, the castle underwent numerous modifications. In the second half of the 14th century, it became the property of the Savoy-Racconigi branch of the House of Savoy. Later, it served as the official residence of the Savoy-Carignano line, a cadet branch of the royal house. Eventually, the castle was chosen as the site of the “Royal Holidays” and became the summer and autumn residence of the Kings of Sardinia. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is protected as a cultural asset. Originally built as a fortress in the Marquisate of Turin, the castle passed to the Marquises of Saluzzo and, in the 17th century, was elevated to the status of a “royal residence” when it came into the hands of the House of Savoy. The French landscape architect André ...