Palazzo Reale

You’re now in front of the Royal Palace, also known as the Palazzo Regio. This building dates back to the 14th century, when Cagliari was under the control of the Crown of Aragon. Since the Aragonese ruled over a vast and scattered empire, King Peter IV of Aragon appointed a viceroy to govern Sardinia on his behalf, from here in Cagliari. Sardinia held a somewhat special status at the time, it reported directly to the king, which gave the island a degree of autonomy.

In the 16th century, the Crown of Aragon, and with it Sardinia, passed to Charles V, yet the island retained this independent structure. Later, after the complex twists of the War of the Spanish Succession, the island briefly came under Austrian rule. Then in 1720, Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy, took control of Sardinia by trading Sicily to the Habsburgs. History can feel a bit like a board game sometimes, can’t it?

This was the beginning of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which included the States of Savoy, Piedmont, the County of Nice, and the island of Sardinia. The Dukes of Savoy, based in Turin, were granted the title of King of Sardinia. That’s why people often refer to it as the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, since Turin is located in the region of Piedmont.

Between 1799 and 1815, this palace became the official royal residence. The kings of Sardinia didn’t just come here for the sea views and milder climate, they were escaping Napoleon, who occupied Turin during his first Italian campaign.

In 1885, the palace was handed over to the regional Prefecture, which moved in and carried out renovations to adapt the space for government use. The interiors and period furnishings are stunning. If you’re curious, and willing to spend a few euros, you can step inside and see them for yourself, especially the exquisite Murano chandeliers.