Reggia di Venaria & Sacra of San Michele

The Royal Palace of Venaria, the summer residence of the Savoys modelled on Versailles,extensive Italianate gardens surround this 16th-century hunting lodge built for Carlo Emanuele II of Savoy. The basements now house a historical exhibition that relates the story of the Savoy. The upper floors are given over to changing exhibitions. The Royal Palace is closed on Mondays. Sacra di San Michele A forbidding fortified abbey anchored atop a rocky hill, the Sacra di San Michele. To reach the church, you must climb 150 steps, past 12th-century sculptures, from the Porta dello Zodiaco, a splendid Romanesque doorway decorated with the signs of the zodiac. On the left side of the interior are 16th-century frescoes representing New Testaments themes; on the right are depictions of the founding of the church. Note that some sections of the abbey are open only on weekends and, when particularly crowded, visit may be limited to hour-long tours. If the weather is snowy, the tour guide will suggest an alternative tour.