In September, the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge (situated in the Nichelino area, about 10 kilometers from Turin) will once again reveal some of its most secret corners: on Saturday, September 12, 19 and 26, 2026 the Passepartout program of extraordinary guided tours, dedicated to spaces usually excluded from the standard itinerary, resumes.
For the occasion you can choose between two very different itineraries: “Behind the Secret Doors”, which leads through passages once used by the servants, and “Under the Stag”, a vertical route that allows climbing within the Juvarrian dome structure up to its highest point.
The Palazzina di Caccia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, is one of Piedmont’s most important Savoy residences and is tied to the extraordinary architecture of Filippo Juvarra and to a long history that saw Napoleon and Paolina Bonaparte pass through its halls as well.
Behind the Secret Doors, along the Servants’ Corridors
The route “Behind the Secret Doors” is dedicated to spaces used by the service staff: along corridors and hidden rooms, the visit reveals the passages that allowed the servants to move inside the Palazzina without interfering with the court’s official life.
These are pathways that allowed reaching rooms, private apartments and halls while keeping the movements of staff separate from those of the nobles. The visit thus becomes a way to reconstruct the residence’s daily organization, going beyond the image of monumental spaces reserved for representation.
Among the most curious elements you can encounter is the panel of automatic bells, a system by which the servants could be summoned from various rooms of the Palazzina.
Under the Stag, the ascent to Juvarra’s Dome
If you choose, instead, the visit titled “Under the Stag”, the tour climbs upward and allows you to enter the wooden framework that supports the grand dome designed by Juvarra.
The route begins from the large oval hall of double height from which the ascent starts, and after about 50 steps leads to a balcony overlooking the central hall. The balustrade features a distinctive concave-convex curve and, from the elevated position, it is possible to admire the space from an entirely new perspective.
The visit then continues along a narrow spiral staircase, with about 50 more steps, and leads to the upper part of the dome, beneath the stag which is one of its most recognizable elements.
Reaching the top, attention focuses on the complex roof structure, described as an inverted boat-shaped roof supported by a sophisticated wooden framing: it is precisely from here that you can observe the dome’s construction up close and grasp the technical complexity of the juvarrian project.
But that’s not all: from the summit there opens a 360-degree view of the surroundings, while from above the overall geometry of the complex becomes even more evident.
Practical information for the visits
“Behind the Secret Doors” is scheduled at 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM, while “Under the Stag” takes place at 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Both itineraries last about an hour and involve very small groups, limited to a maximum of 10 people.
Access to the routes is permitted starting from age 12. It is advisable to wear comfortable clothing and, above all, closed-toe shoes suitable for stairs and narrow passages. Backpacks or bulky bags are not allowed.
The visits are not accessible to people with mobility impairments and can be challenging for those who suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo, especially due to the presence of the narrow spiral staircase. The route is also not recommended for those with heart conditions or who are not in adequate physical condition, particularly for the ascent to the dome.
The ticket for “Behind the Secret Doors” costs a total of 22 euros, of which 12 euros for entry and 10 euros for the guided tour. The reduced price is 18 euros.
“” costs instead 25 euros, of which 15 euros for entry and 10 euros for the guided tour; the reduced rate is 22 euros.
For holders of the Museum Subscription Card, admission to the Palazzina is free, while the cost of the guided tour remains payable, at 10 euros.
Booking is mandatory and can be requested by writing to [email protected]. For information you can also call 011 6200601, available Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:30.
