Stupinigi magnificent royal residence in Turin. The Story of Risorgimento and the series Elisa di Rivombrosa.

Palazzina di caccia Stupinigi, by many forgotten, best known by italian people, is the largest western Europe royal palace in baroque style.

If Turin is associated with anything, it is probably the Shroud of Turin: '' la Sacra Sindone'' .

Turin for tourists from abroad is completely forgotten, it is a big shame for education in Europe and should be changed.Turin, for several centuries, was the centre of state power, and then the economic center. People only know Rome as the capital of Italy, which is now becoming as terrifying and dangerous as Paris.In fact, Rome wasn't the first capital of Italy. For centuries, it was a city in the possession of the Pope. Rome is the historical capital of the ancient Roman Empire, which became the capital of Italy many centuries later. 

Cardinal Gulio Mazzarini

 Turin was the first capital of the United Italy.Risorgimento, or the process of unifying the country, began here. This was done by the dynasty, which ''born'' not ordinary people. These people knew how to make good use of opportunity and circumstance to link the warring little Italian republics. They were prominent politicians. One of them became famous as one of the greatest commanders in the world, and it can be said that thanks to him, the Savoys were reckoned with. I am talking about Eugene de Savoy, son of the former lover of King Louis XIV- Olimpia Mancini, a famous poisoner and a very mysterious person. Her uncle was Cardinal Mazzarini, the successor of Richelieu, who was a really worser man.

 

Olimpia was the niece of Cardinal Mazzarini, who often visited Turin. He was the successor of Cardinal Richelieu, and on many issues, he turned out to be a better ''political beast'' than his predecessor. So we can say that the Savoy's drank something with the blood of their uncle and mother. An extraordinary political talent, which most manifested itself in the form of Eugene Savoy. The man who, along with John Sobieski, commanded during the Second Siege of Vienna and clashed numerous times with Turks.This first battle was won by Suleyman the Magnificent.

Eugene never became a king. Until his death, he resided in Vienna, where he was the chief commander of the royal army. However, thanks to him and a tiny piece of land, something more has started to be created.

Did Eugene lead to the death of Emperor Joseph I von Habsburg?  Did  he previously deal with Turks? Certainly yes. However, he had a reason. Joseph was a good politician, but he was also a sexaholic, and a bisexual man, but that wasn't the worst thing. He likes to be brutal with sex and rape. Apparently, during one of the orgies, there was an inconceivable incident that ended with death as a result of rape. That person was Eugene's close friend, or, as some historians have written, Eugene met the brutal face of an emperor on his body, and he never forgot it. 

 




Eugene de Savoy

 He was Savoy as well, and he wanted to create a family myth that would help unite Italy. He became an international myth after his death. He also took part in the succession war in Spain and the war for Polish succession. Thanks to him, peace was made, and the Polish king was finally chosen. Stanisaw Leszczyski was forced to leave.He also took part in the Siege of Torino. His Belvedere Residence can be admired in Vienna, and my fascination with the Savoys began here.

Descendants of the dynasty still exist today, and they could probably still rule the country if they hadn't made one mistake.This mistake was the admission of Mussolini to power, it's the only thing for which we can blame them. Turin is a city of contrasts, with the beautiful old town and the most magnificent royal palaces in western Europe, along with the workers' districts, which are not always beautiful but interesting. The splendour and magnificence of the local palaces can only be compared to Peterhof, and this is true , because these residences arose for the same purpose as the residences of St. Petersburg. Both cities were new capitals and needed to prove it to the whole world. The royal residences in Turin are one of the largest royal residences in Europe, and the famous Versailles can hide behind them. They were also never destroyed during the war. However, few people outside of Italy are aware of their existence.Turin is the city where the largest industrial factories, such as the one that still exists today, such as FIAT, were built.The best Italian chocolate is produced in Turin. One of Europe's first film studios is located here.In good light, in the corners of the entire city, we can see the Alps, even the Matterhorn itself.

 

Still, Turin is visited by few people from abroad. The streets are wide here, so we can drive here peacefully without fear, and the palaces are magnificent. There are also no robbers or immigrants in the streets, or drug syringes left everywhere. As a result, we will not stick to the syringes, just like on the Tiber riverbank, and we will not be attacked in broad daylight. Walking at night in the city centre will also not cause of sudden death, but here we can drive peacefully without fear, and the palaces are magnificent. There are also no robbers or immigrants on the streets, nor are drug syringes left everywhere. As a result, we will not stick to the syringes, just like on the Tiber riverbank, and we will not be attacked in broad daylight. Walking at night in the city centre will also not cause sudden death, but it's always better to be careful . It is not, however, a trip for those who do not enjoy exploring and find it sufficient to take a selfie. What can be fascinating here? First of all, the royal residences of the Savoy dynasty. Is it really difficult to say which is more beautiful. According to all experts and books about the history of art, the most important is the one palace - known as Stupinigi . Palazzina di caccia - this is the official name of the palace, a ''tiny hunting palace''  in a literal translation.However, we won't find a small palace, it disappeared centuries ago. The palace has been extended to several hundred rooms. It was once a small palace, but as a new monarchy with full power, Savoy required a residence worthy of kings.They could emphasise it only with one style in art, which was closely related to absolute power, and to emphasise power, it was created. This style was also beginning to be a symbol of the Counter-Reformation - it is baroque.



symbol of Stupinigi-''il Cervo'' ,orginal statue

The baroque reached its pinnacle of achievement here, and "well done his job," as the saying goes.So these palaces are definitely not a place for lovers of Scandinavian-style of furniture and cold rooms. In some ways, the Baroque period represents the pinnacle of artistic achievement. Baroque is an illusion and plays with light, ornamentation, and everything that man can create.Baroque is one greatest theatre. Another name of the palace is 'Il Cervo', it refers to the deer's statue at the top of the dome. This name was to refer to the original function of the palace as a hunting lodge. In this case, the preposition 'il'' means'' this one is special, unique among many others''.It functions in the same way as in the Semitic languages, with the phrase '' al / el ''. In fact, in every room you can find the deer motif and a reference to the story of St. Hubertus, or any other mythological stories about hunting. Saint, to whom a white deer appeared and turned into an angel or Jesus. The legend about Saint Hubertus is quite well known, but we can recall it.

Hubertus was a relative of Charlemagne. He was a brutal hunter who loved to hunt for the pleasure of killing.He did not even pay attention to the saints. 
When God became enraged after Hubert committed a heinous slaughter in the forest on Good Friday, he sent the angel in the form of a deer.(in some versions, the deer turned into Jesus. myth derived in part from the story of St. Eustache) When a man was about to shoot him, he turned into an angel, and he said: 'Is not today the most important saint for a Christian?" You slaughtered on the day of the Lord's crucifixion; God permitted killing animals only for food, not for pleasure, and you committed that heinous slaughter on that day...Hubertus was converted, he became bishop of Liege, and his body has not been spread to this day. He is the patron of hunters, foresters, and hunting dogs. Numerous references to this story are visible here, which is why the palace is often called the temple of Saint. Hubertus or the temple of the deer. This is one of the first palaces in Europe, where there are toilets with cisterns and bathrooms with bathtubs.

 

 

 

The name Stupinigi means '' intoxicating shock, astonishment, but in a good sense ''. This palace is like  that. Filippo Juvarra, a student of Carlo Fontana, who was a student of the magnificent Bernini, designed the residence and many others in Turin. The amendments were made by Prince Benedetto Alfieri, also the architect and godson of the Pope himself. We know this character from the popular Italian series 'Elisa di Rivombrosa'. The series was loosely based on the best-selling book 'Pamela', at the same time it involved characters and events connected with the unification of the Italy - Risorgimento. The series was shot in  the Savoy family's royal residences  in Turin, also in Stupinigi. Next to the series ''Caraibi'' was the most expensive series in the history of Italian cinematography. It was well received as a film that accurately depicted those times and ages.

The building was built for King Carl Emanuel III, because of family conflicts between father and son. Together with the adjacent parks and forest, it connected three smaller ''towns'' included in the agglomeration of Turin: Vinovo, Candiolo, Moncalieri.
Juvarra was a court architect of Victor Amadeus II, one of the first rulers of the majority of Italy. He was an eminent ruler who created his duchies with powerful powers. One of the first important figures of the Risorgimento.

 

Was he mentally ill? Today, we think that, in fact, he wasn't , and the son, who was in strong conflict with him, removed his father for some time by using that story. Sometimes it's better not to despise children, and Victor has done it many times, even in public situations. Maybe he never heard the old Mongolian proverb: "Do not scorn a weak cub.He may became  a brutal tiger '' ( it was mostly  used to describe Genghis Khan).

Victor Amadeus despised his own son so strongly, which led to his enforced abdication,

probably due to a conspiracy tied to his son.

Charles Emanuel was also overthrown by father, but after returned to the throne. It showed how much they hate each other. He hated the family home so much that he ordered to build a new royal residence. We can say that without that conflict, the most amazing royal residence in western Europe would never exist.

　

 

 

 

  Charles also supported King Stanislaw Leszczyński in the 'war for Polish Succession' and did not involve his country in a devastating "Seven Years War '' that swept through Europe, becoming one of the first cruel wars of history.

Juvarra finished his life in Madrid. While the first court architect, Guarino Garrini, made the buildings rather calm, Juvarra has already reached the peak of the use of all baroque motives and slowly introduced Turin into the culmination of the baroque style, sometimes known as a separate style in art called "rococo. He changed the face of the city and had a lot to do. It was necessary to turn the collapsed village into a royal city. 
Juvarra was admired throughout Europe for the perfect use of illusion, chiaroscuro, ornamentation, and stucco work.





 

Juvarra was first of all a theatre set designer, and it is thanks to that his buildings are amazing. It was his first job, and that made his works unique. He also worked in Spain, where he added mauritian ornaments to baroque motives.  Memory of Islamic Spain has been preserved in the arts and just there.

It was the specific spanish style that Juvarra had moved to Europe. He made extensive use of perspective shots and lighting effects.He did not hesitate to combine elements from different styles, which he met in Spain. He ideally connected buildings with their surroundings. Stupinigi lies on a flat area and was built on the set of a multi-dimensional gallery. The greater part of the complex consists of low buildings, which was meant to emphasise the higher centre of the building. It is this ellipsoid hall, the highest private baroque hall in Europe, topped with "Il Cervo" from the outside, it is the centre and treasure of this palace. It was the centre of the building where the most important ceremonies took place and the most important guests were taken here. Corridors and stairs lead to ballrooms, forming an orderly cross.It's the perfect application of the contract, creating a mysterious backstage for what will happen next. Huge windows overlooking the garden connect the building with the natural scenery of the garden, which makes us feel like we are in the garden, while at the same time we are in the building. The interior is expanded by numerous mirrors decorated with frames. Stupinigi is a theatre where the king and the whole court company are present, but this isn't like with  power, this is the largest and most powerful theatre in the world. Juvarra was able to create residences worthy of rulers. His royal residence in Madrid is a royal residence to this day. From the outside, the building looks mild, and it can be said that it is not interesting. This is another illusion of Juvarra. Stupinigi is like a good candy, in an ugly paper. This is the entire illusion of baroque architecture, which is meant to befuddle after the entrance.This was the assumption of this style, which was intended to attract faithful to Catholic churches while discouraging them from Reformation churches, where sacred buildings are sparsely decorated, gloomy, and cold.After all, this is a move to highlight the royal power.

 

Famous Great Hall

 

 

From the time of Victor Amadeus, Stupinigi was no longer solely a hunting lodge, though it can be easily described as the temple of Saint Hubertus and the Holy Deer due to the abundance of details and motifs referencing this legend.However, it has not been a hunting lodge for a long time, now we can say it's a temple and sanctuary for animals. The king brings the most important guests here, and the mansion spends the most important feasts, such as Christmas, here.It is an ideal theatrical place, worthy of an absolutist king, while at the same time emphasising the influence and importance of the new dynasty, which they needed very much. What is Stupinigi? Only Juvarra can answer that question. Depending on the time of day, light falling on walls, ceilings, or paintings creates a different impression of colors. One will pick up walls in a fillet color, another in blue, and another guest in dark pink. While taking pictures, I could have coloured them, tweaked them through photo programs, but I did not want to do it. I wanted to show Stupinigi of Juvarra in the way he wanted: varable, amazing, mysterious, beautiful, and sometimes scary, like politics is. Stupinigi became an ideal residence worthy of the new dynasty, which needed to emphasise her influence. The others were quickly forgotten. The king resided in the Palazzo Reale in the city, but the most prominent guests always came here. In the palaces of Juvarra also in Stupinigi, were filmed many movies and series, including the most expensive Italian series, - 'Elisa di Rivombrosa', The Italian version of "Beauty and the Beast" was also filmed here, and to this day the residence earns money by renting out its interior design for films. Animals are welcome to visit the palace; they are also welcome in Turin's shops and restaurants. The king adored his dogs, and they have monuments here with their trophies, as seen in the paintings in the Great Hall, where they could also be seen at evening celebrations. Two elephants also lived in Stupinigi. Fritz was most beloved, he has his own statue here. He was a gift from Mohammed Ali - not a boxer, , but a ruler. Fritz died in a terrible accident.The latest part of "King's Man" was also filmed here. Stupinigi played the role of Peterhof and the Winter Palace.

　

 


                                                                     

  

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 International site about place: http://www.residenzereali.it/index.php/en/residenze-reali-del-piemonte/palazzina-di-caccia-di-stupinigi

Official site:( italian, if you dediced to visited , here is current time of visits)

http://www.ordinemauriziano.it/

 

 



 

I'm so thankful to a very nice Italian guy  who helped me get to Porta Nuova! It was nice to meet you there, it's great that still exist people like you, not everyone will want take someone and show all road, although speak by italian language after many years of not use for me is difficult,  ''Hope to meet again if not in that in another life''.