The Valentino Castle ( Italian : Castello del Valentino ) is a historic building in the northwestern Italian city of Turin . It is located in Parco del Valentino , and is the seat of the Architecture Faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin . It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997.
17-435: The ancient castle was bought by Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy on the advice of Andrea Palladio . The name Valentino , first mentioned in 1275, seems to derive from a saint called Valentine whose relics were venerated in a church which stood nearby. The current structure is due to Princess Christine of France (1606–1663), wife of Victor Amadeus I , who dwelt here from 1630. Architect Carlo di Castellamonte renovated
34-542: A conference at the castle. Security forces prevented the majority of protesters from entering, though one protester carrying a Palestinian flag did gain entry, and seven officers were injured during the incident. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the protests. Today it is the central building of the Architecture faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin . The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Torino ,
51-670: A fragile position due to the claims of Philip II, who gained control of the country, thus uniting Spain and Portugal . Emmanuel Philibert spent his rule regaining what had been lost in the costly wars with France. A skilled political strategist, he took advantage of various squabbles in Europe to slowly regain territory from both the French and the Spanish, including the city of Turin . He also purchased two territories. Internally, he moved his political capital from Chambéry to Turin and replaced Latin as
68-482: A historic botanical garden in the castle grounds. Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert ( Italian : Emanuele Filiberto ; Piedmontese : Emanuel Filibert ; 8 July 1528 – 30 August 1580), known as Testa di ferro (Piedmontese: Testa 'd fer ; "Ironhead", because of his military career), was Duke of Savoy and ruler of the Savoyard states from 17 August 1553 until his death in 1580. He
85-550: Is remembered for the recovery of the Savoyard state (invaded and occupied by France when he was a child) following the Battle of St. Quentin (1557), and for moving its capital to Turin . Born in Chambéry , Emmanuel Philibert was the only child of Charles III, Duke of Savoy , and Beatrice of Portugal to reach adulthood. His mother was sister-in-law to Charles V , Holy Roman Emperor , and
102-627: The Count of Montgomery accidentally struck his helmet at a point beneath the visor and shattered. The wooden splinters deeply penetrated his right eye and entered his brain. Close to death, but still conscious, the king ordered that his sister's marriage should take place immediately, for fear that the Duke of Savoy might profit from his death and renege on the alliance. The ceremony did not take place in Notre Dame Cathedral as had been planned. Instead it
119-670: The Habsburgs in hopes of recovering his lands, and served his cousin Philip II of Spain as Governor of the Netherlands from 1555 to 1559. In this capacity, he personally led the Spanish invasion of northern France and won a brilliant victory at Saint-Quentin on 10 August 1557. He was also a suitor to Lady Elizabeth Tudor (the future queen Elizabeth I), daughter of Henry VIII of England . Emmanuel Philibert finally recovered his lands following
136-561: The Peace of Cateau Cambrésis signed between France and Spain in 1559, and he married his first cousin once removed, Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry , the sister of King Henry II of France . Their only child was Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy . After the death of his uncle, Henry I of Portugal , on 31 January 1580, Emmanuel Philibert fought to impose his rights as a claimant to the Portuguese throne . However, he soon realized that he had quite
153-472: The construction substantially, with the help of his son Amedeo . Works started around 1633 and lasted until 1660. It has a horseshoe shape, with four rectangular towers, one at each angle, and a wide inner court with a marble pavement. The ceilings of the false upper floors are clearly in transalpino (i.e. French) style. The façade sports a huge coat of arms of the House of Savoy. Minor modifications were made in
170-431: The early nineteenth century; at this time, too, much of the seventeenth-century furniture was carried off by French troops. For the next half century the palace was more or less abandoned and fell into a state of disrepair. Renovations were carried out in 1860 when it was selected as the seat of the engineering faculty of Turin; it has been further restored in recent years. In April 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted
187-411: The end of 1538, her father and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor , agreed that Margaret should marry Charles' son, the future Philip II of Spain . However, the agreement between Francis and Charles was short-lived and the marriage never took place. In 1557 she appointed as lady in waiting Jacqueline d'Entremont , to whom she would remain close with later in life. On 29 April 1550, at the age of 26, she
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#1732852850717204-506: The future duke served in Charles's army during the war against Francis I of France , distinguishing himself by capturing Hesdin in July 1553. A month later, his father died, and he became Duke of Savoy on the death of his father, but this was a nearly empty honour, as the vast majority of his hereditary lands had been occupied and administered by the French since 1536. Instead, he continued to serve
221-930: The official language with French in the Duchy of Savoy and the Duchy of Aosta and with Italian in the Principality of Piedmont and the County of Nice . He was attempting to acquire the marquisate of Saluzzo when he died in Turin. Later, he was buried in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud of the Turin Cathedral , to which he had moved the Sindone in 1578. Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry Margaret of Valois , Duchess of Berry (French: Marguerite de Valois ) (5 June 1523 – 15 September 1574)
238-411: The time, Margaret was described as having been a "spinster lady of excellent breeding and lively intellect". The wedding took place in tragic circumstances. On 30 June just three days after her marriage contract had been signed, King Henry was gravely injured during a tournament celebrating the wedding of his eldest daughter Elisabeth to the recently widowed King Philip. A lance wielded by his opponent
255-577: Was Duchess of Savoy by marriage to Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy . She was the daughter of King Francis I of France and Claude, Duchess of Brittany . Margaret was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 5 June 1523 the youngest daughter and child of King Francis I of France and Claude, Duchess of Brittany. Margaret was very close to her paternal aunt, Marguerite of Angoulême , who took care of her and her sister Madeleine during her childhood, and her sister-in-law Catherine de' Medici . Near
272-518: Was a solemn, subdued event conducted at midnight on 9 July in Saint Paul's, a small church not far from the Tournelles Palace where Margaret's dying brother was ensconced. Among the few guests was the French queen consort Catherine de' Medici who sat by herself, weeping. King Henry died the following day. Margaret and her husband had only one surviving child: Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy who
289-502: Was created suo jure Duchess of Berry . Shortly before her 36th birthday, a marriage was finally arranged for her by her brother King Henry II of France and her former suitor Philip II as part of the terms stipulated in the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis which was signed by the ambassadors representing the two monarchs on 3 April 1559. The husband selected for her was Philip's ally, Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy , Prince of Piedmont. At
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