Agliè

The original nucleus of Agliè (Ajé in Piedmontese), built on the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Alladium, was probably located on the hills in Madonne delle Grazie, was mentioned for the first time in 1019. At the time Agliè was a castle, built to defend Macugnano. The current name appears instead in 1141, when the feudal lords of the Canavese divided the territory and the village passed under the control of the San Martino di Rivarolo and Agliè.

In 1386 the peasants around the village gave rise to a revolt, remembered with the name of Tuchinaggio, and violently cut off by Amedeo VII of Savoy, also called Conte Rosso. Perhaps thanks to his good governance, Aglie did not take part in this rebellion. Agliè was involved in the struggles between the Guelphs of San Martino d'Agliè and the Ghibellines of the Counts of Valperga. In 1391 thanks to the Savoy peace came. The Alliadese asked their lords, the Counts of Agliè, some concessions and privileges obtaining them thanks to the loyalty shown to their feudal lords at the time of Tuchinaggio. Later in 1448 the municipal statutes were granted. After the mid-sixteenth century, Aglie also had to suffer the consequences of the war between Savoy and France.

Peace came in 1561, when the Counts of Agliè swore loyalty to the Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy. The seventeenth century saw the appearance on the historical scene a very important figure for the country, Filippo San Martino di Agliè, to whom we owe the restoration and expansion of the castle of Agliè. After the death of Philip, which took place in 1667, it is necessary to wait about a century before the enlargements of the castle are completed, which we can still admire today. In 1796 the village was invaded by the French and the castle was looted. In 1825 Carlo Felice came into possession of the castle and entrusted its restoration to the architect Borda di Saluzzo, who also built the small internal theater.

The ducal castle of Agliè is one of the main attractions of the village, together with Villa Il Meleto, which was the summer residence of the poet Guido Gozzano.

BY CAR

• From Turin: Merge onto the Turin-Milan highway, then continue on the A4 / E64 following the Tangenziale E25 / Aosta-Trafori, always continuing in the direction of G.S. Bernardo. From here, take the A5 / E612 by taking the Settimo Torinese exit towards Leinì. Continue for about 32 kilometers, then turn to the second exit of Ozegna on the SP41 and then enter Agliè center.
• From Milan: take the Santhia-Ivrea link, after exiting Ivrea cross the Pedemontana until Bairo-Torre and finally enter Agliè.
• From Rome: Leave Rome by taking Via Aurelia, continue on the SS1 towards Civitavecchia-Grosseto. Enter the A12 / Civitavecchia and continue on the SS1 / E80 towards Grosseto. Follow the Livorno-Pisa, cross Pisa continuing on the Viareggio-Lucca branch. Follow Genova-Ventimiglia continuing on the A12 / E80 for Milano-Bolzaneto. Near Genova A7 / E62 at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit continuing on the SS35BIS towards Torino-Novi Ligure. Continue for about ten kilometers through both Alessandria and Casale Monferrato. At the roundabout take the second exit to enter the SS11 by turning left onto the SP90. Then cross San Giorgio Canavese, then take the SP52 and finally enter Agliè center.

BY TRAIN

• Turin Porta Susa station

BY PLANE

• Turin Caselle International Airport

Count Filippo Giuseppe of San Martino di Agliè was born in 1604, he was the second of nine sons of Count Giulio Cesare of San Martino d'Agliè marquis of San Germano and his wife Ottavia Gentile.Filippo, being a cadet, undertook ecclesiastical studies which he abandoned soon to devote himself to the military career. He was later a chamber gentleman of the cardinal Maurizio di Savoia from 1627 to 1630, when he was appointed lieutenant in the Corazza company of Duke Vittorio Amedeo I. He was also Minister of State, Superintendent General of Finance, Marshal General of the Army, Grand Master of House, Knight of the Supreme Order of the SS. Annunziata and many other things.

When Duke Vittorio Amedeo I died in 1637, his son Carlo Emanuele II was too young to succeed him and so his mother, Maria Cristina of France (first Madama Reale, daughter of King Henry IV), assumed power as regent. His regency, between 1637 and 1648, divided into two factions the ducal court of Savoy: Principalists and Madamists. Philip sided in favor of Cristina and became the favorite, personal advisor and Minister of State. They mainly had his political and diplomatic skills that managed to preserve the throne to the young duke and the independence of the Duchy.

The Regent Maria Cristina and Filippo d 'Agliè had to oppose the intentions of the French king Louis XIII (brother of the Regent) and at the same time the anti-French opposition of the pro-Spaniard brothers-in-law, Prince Cardinal Maurizio and Prince of Carignano, Tommaso Francesco di Savoia, brothers of the late Duke Vittorio Amedeo I. For these choices, Philip was antagonized by a few powerful people, including Cardinal Richelieu who, by a stratagem, arrested him in 1640 and held him prisoner in the castle of Vincennes in France. Two years later, at the death of the Cardinal, by the interest of Maria Cristina at his brother Louis XIII, Philip was finally freed.

Back in Turin, in 1645 he was appointed marshal general of the army and finally Grand Master of the House of Savoy. He remained in the service of the ducal house until 1663, when he retired to private life. In recent years, he regularly attended the convent of Monte dei Cappuccini in Turin.

Count Filippo d'Agliè was also famous for his excellent artistic skills, a good musician and a brilliant choreographer: he wrote and directed countless ballets for the Court of Turin, including "Il Gridelino" and "Il Tabacco".

Philip died, probably in the Royal Palace of Turin, July 19, 1667. He was buried, as he requested, in the bare land of the convent of Monte dei Cappuccini. Currently his remains rest in the vestibule of the Capuchin church.