The Reggia di Venaria is one of the largest royal residences in Piedmont.
The palace was designed and built in a few years (1658 - 1679) by the architect Amedeo di Castellamonte. The Duke Carlo Emanuele II wanted to make it the basis his for hunting parties. The goal was to reshape the ancient town of Altessano making it a satellite town for the summer residence of the Savoia family. Altessano so changed the name to Venaria.