Palazzo Reale

The Royal Palace, in Cagliari

The Royal Palace, or Palazzo Regio, is a building of the fourteenth century on the Piazza Palazzo, former residence of the viceroys then of the kings of Sardinia. The Cagliari audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this witness of the eventful history of the island, passed from the hands of Aragon to those of Charles V, then from Austria to the house of Savoy, that made it its official residence at the turn of the nineteenth century.

History

The Royal Palace, also called Palazzo Regio, dates from the fourteenth century. At that time, Cagliari was in the hands of the crown of Aragon, that possessed too many territories to be everywhere at once: Peter IV of Aragon thus installed a viceroy there to represent him. Sardinia, with its particular status, answered directly to the king, which gave it a certain autonomy. In the sixteenth century, the crown of Aragon, and thus the island, passed to Charles V, while preserving this independence. After the complications of the war of the Spanish Succession, Sardinia passed briefly under Austrian domination, before the duke of Savoy, Victor-Amadeus II, recovered it in 1720 by exchanging it with the Habsburgs for Sicily. Thus was born the Kingdom of Sardinia, that gathered the States of Savoy, the Piedmont, the county of Nice and the island; the dukes of Savoy, whose capital was Turin, obtained the title of kings of Sardinia, hence the name of Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. Between 1799 and 1815, the palace became the official residence of the royal family. It shelters today the seat of the Prefecture of the metropolitan city of Cagliari.

What to see

Here you admire a building of the fourteenth century, former residence of the viceroys then of the kings of Sardinia, witness of the eventful history of the island passed from Aragon to Charles V, then from Austria to the house of Savoy that made it its official residence between 1799 and 1815; it shelters today the Prefecture. The Royal Palace tells the dynasties of Cagliari. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Royal Palace stands on the Piazza Palazzo, in the Castello district, beside the cathedral, in Cagliari, reachable on foot. The building shelters administrative services; some rooms adorned with frescoes are visited according to the hours and conditions in force, which vary. It is best to enquire before coming.

What is the history of the Royal Palace of Cagliari?

Built in the fourteenth century under the crown of Aragon, it was the residence of the viceroys of Sardinia, then, after the passage of the island to Charles V, to Austria and finally to the house of Savoy in 1720, the official residence of the royal family between 1799 and 1815; it shelters today the seat of the Prefecture of the metropolitan city of Cagliari.

Where is the Royal Palace in Cagliari?

On the Piazza Palazzo, in the Castello district, beside the cathedral, in Cagliari, in Italy.