The ancient castle was bought by Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy on the advice of Andrea Palladio.

The name Valentino, first mentioned in 1275, seems to derive from a saint called Valentine whose relics were venerated in a church which stood nearby.

The current structure is due to Princess Christine of France (1606–1663), wife of Victor Amadeus I, who dwelt here from 1630.

Minor modifications were made in the early nineteenth century; at this time, too, much of the seventeenth-century furniture was carried off by French troops.

The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Torino, a historic botanical garden in the castle grounds.