A place rich in charm, beauty and history, where Camillo Benso di Cavour, the statesman who created the unification of Italy, lived and is buried. A fundamental stop for those who wish to delve deeper into the history of united Italy and learn about the life of one of its main architects
The Polo Cavouriano represents a unique heritage of Art, Culture and History, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the life and works of one of the greatest Italian statesmen, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour.
It includes the Memorial built inside the Castle, the vast and majestic English Park, the Tomb of Cavour, the Diplomatic Hall, the Palazzo delle Scuderie and the Library.
The Polo Cavouriano includes
Castle of Santena or Cavour
Historical residence of the Benso family, it houses the Cavour Memorial, a museum itinerary divided into three floors with twenty rooms furnished with furniture and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries, a library and historical archives.
Here you can retrace Cavour’s life, from his youth to his political commitment, through multimedia installations and personal objects.
Among the main works of art and memorabilia on display are the Portrait of Camillo Benso di Cavour by Francesco Hayez, Decorations in Empire and Oriental Style, Paintings of Wild Animals and Family Portraits, Historical Relics such as an olive branch sent by Mussolini in 1929 and the wreaths donated by one hundred Italian cities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Cavour’s death, Coat of Arms of the Benso di Cavour.
On the ground floor the focus is on the reenactment of the family history and the ties of the famous Piedmontese statesman with the place.
On the first floor, the visitor will be introduced, with the help of multimedia devices and installations, to the period of his childhood and adolescence, up to the years of his formative travels in Europe.
On the top floor, thanks to the devices and multimedia installations and the exhibition of personal objects belonging to the Count of Cavour, the theme of agricultural experimentation and the beginnings of his political commitment is explored.
The last part of the tour, dedicated to Cavour, statesman and architect of the Unification of Italy, ends with a visit to his Room where the furniture brought to Santena by his niece Giuseppina in 1886 is collected.
English Park
A large park designed by Xavier Kurten according to the fashion of the picturesque English garden for a pleasant walk among centuries-old plants such as plane trees, beech trees and elms.
Entrance to the park is free, but entry with animals is prohibited.
Tomb of Cavour
Located in the family chapel, it was declared a National Monument in 1911
Polo Cavouriano – Memoriale Cavour
Piazza Visconti Venosta 2
Santena (Turin)
Piedmont – Italy
What to see in the province in the surroundings near places to visit Castles Historic Buildings Museums Gardens Monuments historical cultural itineraries