Centenary of Queen Margherita of Savoy celebrated at Stupinigi hunting lodge

The Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, near Turin, marks the centenary of the death of Margherita di Savoia (1851–1926), first queen of unified Italy, with a multifaceted program running from January 25 to June 2026. The project, titled "Margherita. Un secolo di storia," includes historical reenactments, a new chocolate created by historic pastry shop Pfatisch, and the exhibition "Sulle strade della Regina. Alle origini dell’automobile moderna" (March 5–June 28, 2026) in collaboration with MAUTO – Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile. The exhibition features eleven original late-19th and early-20th-century automobiles alongside nine historic carriages from the Nicolotti Furno private collection. A parallel itinerary, "Le stanze di Margherita," contrasts historical photographs with current interiors of the queen's apartment, highlighting her role as an "interior designer" who modernized the lodge with electricity and plumbing while blending Baroque furniture by Piero Piffetti with modern wicker, lace, and exotic plants. The program concludes with the historical reenactment "I giorni di Margherita" on June 20–21, 2026, curated by Le vie del tempo. Margherita, who married Umberto I in 1868 and became queen in 1878, was a style icon and patron of the arts, known as the "Regina delle arti." After the king's assassination in 1900, she retreated to Stupinigi, which she used until 1919, when it was ceded to the state to become Italy's first Museum of Furniture.