Originally the Bishop’s Palace, the Palazzo Reale was taken over by Duke Emmanuel Philibert when the city became the Savoy capital, and was expanded and embellished following the marriage of Victor Amadeus to the French Princess Christine Marie during the 17th century. The princess and architect Filippo Juvarra added a number of features, including the Scala delle Forbici staircase and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, to house the Shroud of Turin.
Today, you can see firsthand how the European aristocracy lived by visiting the palace’s richly decorated rooms filled with tapestries and artwork. The Palace is also home to an armory, the Sabauda art gallery, Royal Library, Archaeological Museum, and Royal Gardens. A visit to the Royal Palace and gardens is included in most Turin small-group walking tours.