Today suitable for hosting exhibitions, cultural events, and temporary displays of modern art, the Serrone (also called the Orangerie) was created in 1790 based on a design by architect Piermarini to house citrus trees, exotic plants, or rare and valuable botanical collections, especially during the winter period.
It is reminiscent of the Orangerie in the Schönbrunn Palace, and its construction was desired by Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg-Este, who inaugurated it, with the adjacent Rotunda frescoed by Andrea Appiani, on the occasion of his 20th wedding anniversary with Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este.
The structure (100 meters long, 6 meters wide and 7 meters high) is located along the courtyard of honor, at the end of the north wing of the Villa Reale and is characterized externally by the 26 large arched windows facing south interspersed with pilasters and, internally, by the original wooden trusses.
Over the years, the Serrone has undergone several restoration works, such as those involving the internal paving. In fact, the original natural pavement was replaced by terracotta paving. During the latest works, dated 1985, the Serrone's interior spaces were equipped with a system of sliding modular panels capable of adapting the space to different needs.
