Castle of San Giorgio Canavese

Castello di San Giorgio Canavese

The Castle of the Counts of Biandrate at San Giorgio Canavese comprises a series of buildings, most of which were built during medieval times for defensive purposes. Standing on a rocky outcrop above the town, it was designed as a military fortress but was rebuilt several times over the centuries and only acquired its current layout during the 18th century. In fact, although the castle was restored and acquired various improvements during the 17th century, resulting in its being described as "extremely fine and very beautiful" in the Theatrum Sabaudiae, the most important changes were not made until 1726 to coincide with the marriage of Marquis Ferdinando di San Giorgio to Marquise Vicarel de Fleury. A large entrance hall was planned, together with a grand staircase leading to the first floor; the medieval towers were demolished to make room for the majestic palace consisting of a long three-storey building, with three projecting wings separated by courtyards. The central block is topped by a pediment, while the side wings have a balcony under the cornice. To the south is a chapel dedicated to San Giorgio, which is mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th century. Inside, the vast central hall, which rises up through the full height of the building, leads to the rooms in the apartments that stand out for their beautiful polychrome decorations. The castle is now owned by a private company and has been painstakingly restored over the past few years. There are 15 rooms, with capacities of between 20 and 200 persons. All are fully equipped for meetings, receptions and other kinds of events. The castle can also host banquets for a maximum of 800 guests. The lower floor, where the kitchens were originally housed, has also been restored and will seat a further 250 persons.
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