Monza's royal villa

In 1777 the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria ordered the construction of a summer residence for his son Ferdinand, Governorof Lombardy. The task was entrusted toPiermarini, author of  La Scala Theatre and the Royal Palace of Caserta. In 1805 Eugenede Beauharnais appointed viceroy of the new Kingdom of Italy. He established his main residence in the Villa who took the name of Royal Villa. After the fall of Napoleon (1815) the Austrians were back until the Warof Independence (1859) when the Royal Villa became well known as the house of the Savoy family. The villa was dear to King Umberto I, who loved to live there. In 1900 Umberto was assassinated at Monza and after thetragic event, the new King Victor Emmanuel IIIdid not want to use the Villa Reale. He actually closed it and he went to Rome. In 1934 a Royal Decree of King Vittorio Emanuele III donatedthe Villa to the municipalities of Monza and Milan.

Piermarini created a Neoclassical building with three main bodies which border a large courtyard enclosed by the Chapel from one part and the Riding house from the other one.

The decoration of the facades gives up gables, columns and panels in relief, so it is extremely rigorous, marking the surfaces of fine gradations. The interior is composed of an infinite series(600) of rooms connected to each other.

The complex includes the chapel of the Villa Reale, the Riding School, the Rotonda Appiani, the Court Theatre, and the Orangerie (The Serrone). In the first floorthere are the reception roomsand the apartments of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita.The front of villa facing east opensto English Gardens designed by Piermarini.