Castello di 
Barone

The eighteenth-century castle of Barone stands on the ruins of an ancient fief whose first records date back to 1182. After a series of changes of ownership in 1722 Giuseppe Benedetto Valperga purchased the fief of Barone for 23,000 lire. It is in this period that the construction of the current Barone Castle takes place. The project of the new home of the Valperga family dates back to 1723, by the architect Costanzo Michela, former authority of Aglie, as well as a skilled notary working not only in the Canavese area. Of the original project, only one autograph panel has been recovered which is kept in the castle and which represents the main section of the majestic, partly unfinished complex. The current castle in fact represents only one of the two lobes of the overall project. On the main floor there is a large circular hall from which three large square-shaped rooms branch off. One of these preserves intact a beautiful eighteenth-century fresco with characteristic wax decorations. On the ground floor there are other large halls which housed the service spaces and the hunting preparation rooms. A magnificent cantilevered helical room connects to the upper floors, where there are 8 large rooms with an extraordinary view of the Canavese hills. The estate is completed by a large garden with a fountain in the centre. The garden with centuries-old trees overlooks the plain on one side towards the Basilica of Superga, and the Alps on the other. The private residence is used for cultural events, private parties and ceremonies, in conjunction with which it is possible to stay in the castle.