Spettacoli di Corte
Music and history of the House of Savoy at the Royal Castle of Govone
About Spettacoli di Corte
A court brought to life in Govone
Spettacoli di Corte is a traveling festival that traverses the Savoyard residences of Piedmont, Savoy, and beyond, reviving the music and history of the House of Savoy in the very places where it unfolded. The Govone leg, held in a small town in the province of Cuneo nestled in the rolling hills of the Roero region, takes place in the evocative Grand Ballroom of the Royal Castle—a residence cherished by Charles Felix of Savoy and now a UNESCO World Heritage site alongside other Savoyard dwellings.
The performance: Applausi poetici
The heart of the Govone event is Applausi poetici, a performance by the vocal and instrumental ensemble Gli Invaghiti. Through 17th-century music, readings, and carefully selected words, the show recounts the passions and lives of Savoyard figures—including the likes of Charles Albert and Santorre di Santarosa—blending early musical repertoire with historical storytelling. It is not merely a concert, but an immersive experience that fuses period sounds with narrative, designed to transport the audience into the authentic atmosphere of a royal court.
The SavoiaExperience project
The festival was born within the SavoiaExperience project: A tourist and cultural circuit in the heart of Europe, funded by the European INTERREG VI-A France-Italy ALCOTRA 2021-2027 program. The initiative unites cross-border Savoyard residences into a single circuit: from the Castle of Manta to the Royal Castle of Govone, all the way to Hautecombe Abbey and the Castle of the Dukes of Savoy in Chambéry. In Govone, the organization involves the Le Terre dei Savoia Association, the Municipality, the Govone Residenza Sabauda association, and the Govone and the Castle Cultural Promotion Center.
Why it is worth visiting
For those visiting the Langhe and Roero regions, Spettacoli di Corte is a unique opportunity to discover a royal castle in an unusual light, brought to life by live music and the history preserved within its walls. The free admission and the setting of the Grand Ballroom make the event suitable for everyone, from early music enthusiasts to tourists curious about the Savoyard heritage of this corner of Piedmont.
Spettacoli di Corte — edition 2026
The 2026 Govone leg was part of a weekend dedicated to Savoyard castles: on May 30, the Castle of Manta hosted the show F.E.R.T. – The Savoys appear on the European stage, while May 31 was the turn of the Royal Castle of Govone with Applausi poetici. Both events featured the vocal and instrumental ensemble Gli Invaghiti, which was welcomed by a large audience.
The 2026 festival included eight events across Piedmont, Savoy, and beyond: Bra, the Castle of Valcasotto, the Castle of Manta, Govone, the Castle of Racconigi, Hautecombe Abbey, and the Castle of the Dukes of Savoy in Chambéry. All events were free of charge.
Programme Spettacoli di Corte 2026
Govone — May 31, 2026, at 5:30 PM
- Applausi poetici — vocal and instrumental ensemble Gli Invaghiti
- Location: Grand Ballroom, Royal Castle of Govone
- 17th-century music, readings, and narration dedicated to the protagonists of the House of Savoy (including Charles Albert and Santorre di Santarosa)
The complete 2026 festival circuit
- April 18, 5:30 PM — Santa Chiara Church, Bra — Applausi poetici
- May 23, 4:30 PM — Castle of Valcasotto — Applausi poetici
- May 30, 5:30 PM — Castle of Manta — F.E.R.T. – The Savoys appear on the European stage
- May 31, 5:30 PM — Royal Castle of Govone — Applausi poetici
- June 6, 5:30 PM — Castle of Racconigi — Applausi poetici
- June 20, 5:30 PM — Hautecombe Abbey — Applausi poetici
- June 21, 7:00 PM — Castle of the Dukes of Savoy, Chambéry — Applausi poetici
- September 20, 5:30 PM — Castle of Manta — F.E.R.T. – The Savoys appear on the European stage
Highlights Spettacoli di Corte 2026
Prices Spettacoli di Corte 2026
Practical information — Spettacoli di Corte
Location
Royal Castle of Govone, Grand Ballroom — Govone (CN), Piedmont. Govone is located in the Roero region, a short distance from Alba, Bra, and Asti.
How to get there
By car from Turin via the A6 motorway and then local roads towards Roero; from Asti, follow signs for Govone. The historic center and the castle are easily accessible on foot once in town.
Admission
Access to the festival performances is free. Reservations are generally required for the events, often managed via Eventbrite: it is recommended to check the details on the Le Terre dei Savoia Association channels before the event.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Spettacoli di Corte
Castello Reale di Govone — Salone delle Feste
Via Camillo Benso Cavour 1, 12040 Govone