Agenzia di Pollenzo

The Agenzia di Pollenzo formed the working centre of the rural estate rebuilt by King Carlo Alberto in the nineteenth century. Its neo-Gothic buildings are part of the UNESCO-listed Residences of the Royal House of Savoy and belong to a larger ensemble that includes the castle, church and farm buildings.

Why it matters

Unlike the Savoy palaces designed primarily for court life, the Agenzia served the administration of an agricultural estate. Its architecture reflects the Romantic medievalism of Carlo Alberto's redevelopment of Pollenzo, while the restored complex connects that history with modern institutions devoted to food and agriculture.

What to notice

Ernesto Melano directed the work at Pollenzo, with Pelagio Palagi contributing to the ensemble's design and decoration. Pointed windows and crenellations give the Agenzia its neo-Gothic character. The building should be understood in relation to the castle, church, Cascina Albertina and central piazza, conceived as parts of one planned composition.

Context and history

Carlo Alberto acquired Pollenzo in 1832 and, over the following fifteen years, transformed the medieval settlement into a model agricultural estate. The Agenzia served as its administrative and service building. After a period of decline, the complex was restored between 2000 and 2004 on the initiative of Slow Food. The restoration brought new educational and cultural uses to the historic buildings, including the University of Gastronomic Sciences and the Banca del Vino. Pollenzo is part of the UNESCO World Heritage serial property of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, inscribed in 1997.