Today it seems impossible, but the district of Mirafiori in Torino in the mid-sixteenth century was an idyllic place: woods, meadows, reed, flowers and ancient trees stretched as far as the eye could see.
The name Miraflores (looking at the flowers), Mirafiori, derives from the strong bond of the new Savoy residence, built by Carlo Emanuele I of Savoy as a gift to his wife Caterina D'Asburgo, with flowers and therefore with the park and adjoining gardens.
Unfortunately, in 1599, after two people died of plague, the duke had to leave the beautiful home, but extreme ruin occurred in 1706 during the siege of Torino, when the palace was burned down in the fighting. In 1869, during a flood, most of the marbles fell into the river Sangone, diverted from its course for the construction of the gardens and the palace.
It was not long before the park was turned into a plantation and a tobacco factory was built where the mansion once stood. The factory was later replaced by the Fiat plant.
