The Castle of Valentino (Castello del Valentino) is a historic building located in Valentino Park, the Cloze (1): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDJiJXUwMDE2JXUwMDA2JXUwMDBjJXUwMDAxJXUwMDBh largest park in Turin, along the west bank of the River Po. Opened in 1856, the park became Italy’s first public garden. As a Cloze (2): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDNlJXUwMDA5JXUwMDFkJXUwMDFmJXUwMDA4JXUwMDE3 residence of the House of Savoy, the castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The castle’s name dates back to 1275, when the relics of Saint Valentine were kept in a Cloze (3): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDM2JXUwMDBiJXUwMDA0JXUwMDEzJXUwMDEwJXUwMDFi church. It was later acquired by Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy on the Cloze (4): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDM5JXUwMDA1JXUwMDEyJXUwMDFmJXUwMDBhJXUwMDA2 of architect Andrea Palladio. Over the years, it was home to several noble families.

In the 17th century, Christine of France, Duchess of Savoy, ordered a complete reconstruction of the Cloze (5): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDNiJXUwMDAyJXUwMDEyJXUwMDA3JXUwMDE4JXUwMDA5 , drawing inspiration from French Cloze (6): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDI4JXUwMDExJXUwMDBkJXUwMDBkJXUwMDAyJXUwMDA2JXUwMDE2 . The new design featured four corner Cloze (7): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDJjJXUwMDFiJXUwMDE4JXUwMDEyJXUwMDE3JXUwMDAx and a horseshoe-shaped courtyard with Cloze (8): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDM1JXUwMDBjJXUwMDEzJXUwMDEwJXUwMDBlJXUwMDA5 paving. The mansard roof, typical of French architecture, reflected Christine’s personal taste. According to legend, the castle was a meeting place for her secret Cloze (9): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDJhJXUwMDFkJXUwMDAyJXUwMDBjJXUwMDBmJXUwMDBkJXUwMDA2JXUwMDE2 , and an underground tunnel Cloze (10): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDJiJXUwMDA2JXUwMDA1JXUwMDAwJXUwMDFmJXUwMDFjJXUwMDE2JXUwMDAxJXUwMDA4JXUwMDE1 connected it to another royal residence.

After years of neglect, the castle was Cloze (11): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDJhJXUwMDE3JXUwMDE2JXUwMDA3JXUwMDFiJXUwMDFkJXUwMDE3JXUwMDAx in 1860 and became the seat of the Engineering Faculty. Surprisingly, its interiors and frescoes remained well-preserved. Today, visitors can admire 17th-century frescoes, including the Zodiac Room, which features a central Cloze (12): marblesecondromancestowersadviceformerrestoredcastlenearbypalacespaintingsupposedly JXUwMDI4JXUwMDExJXUwMDA4JXUwMDA3JXUwMDFhJXUwMDFkJXUwMDA3JXUwMDA5 of the River Po and Poseidon.

Currently, the Castle of Valentino houses the Architecture Faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin.