Baroque
No grandiosity or ostentation, no extravaganzas of gold leaf, stucco, marble and sculpted draperies. On the contrary, Baroque architecture in Piedmont will surprise and delight you with its imposing, yet simple and harmonious style.
The Baroque made its entrance into Italy along with Emanuele Filiberto and soon became the outer manifestation of a kingdom that played a fundamental role in Italian history, the Kingdom of Savoy.There is a tight bond between the Baroque and the way the state’s celebrations were represented. For this reason, the greatest expressions of this style are found in Turin and the areas near this ex-capital, where Savoy family members loved to go and rest and where it was no accident that they had their luxurious royal residences built. One of these is Stupinigi, a small town a few kilometres from the capital of Piedmont, which hosts the Palazzina di Caccia, a hunting palace that was one of the Savoys’ favourite summer residences.
Turin has been crowned by two jewels of the Baroque, the Cappella della Sindone or “Chapel of the Shroud” designed by Guarino Guarini and the Santuario della Consolata or “Sanctuary of Mary the Consoler.” In addition, the Basilica of Superga treats us to a wonderful view of the city. This Baroque monument houses most of the tombs of the Savoys. If we were to trace out a route through this extravagant style characteristic of the eighteenth century, we would have to leave Turin and go out to discover various districts where these monuments are conserved – the Sacri Monti or “Holy Mountains” of Piedmont, the Castle of Racconigi in Cuneo Province, the Palazzo Borromeo on the island Isola Bella, the Basilica of San Gaudenzio in Novara and the numerous piazzas and monumental buildings spread throughout the region.
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Places
Historical Wine Cellars in Canelli
The wine cellars – which hold ancient barrels perfectly lined-up – have brick arches, lowered large round arches connected to each other by tunnels that reach into the layers and strata of earth which have formed over the centuries.
Biblioteca Reale di Torino
The Biblioteca Reale (Royal Library) houses important collections of manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts, and engravings. Besides its 2,000 drawings, it has several drawings by Leonard Da Vinci, among which are: the Self-Portrait, the Volto dell’Angelo (the Angel’s Face), the preliminary drawing for the Vergine delle Rocce (Virgin of the Rocks), and the Codice sul Volo (Codex on the Flight of Birds).
Abbazia di Novalesa
Near the monastery, there are four chapels dedicated to Saint Mary, Saint Salvador, Saint Michael, and the most important one to Saint Eldrado which has two splendid fresco cycles (from the late 11th century) narrating moments from the lives of Saint Eldrado and Saint Nicholas.
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People
Nanni Moretti
"It seems to me that Torino had a rush of pride with the winter Olympics; I remember that during that time, I would hear a lot of people surprised at the city’s reawakening: that feeling is still there."
Africa Unite
"Africa United is not deeply Torinese. Bunna and I are from the province of Piemonte and we’re critical toward the so-called ‘Savoy pride’, but it’s a fact that we have experienced Torino’s turmoil."
Alain Elkann
“Torino remains a beautiful city, but not only that, it is also a serious city in which one can work well. One feels protected…Then, in those hills on certain winter days when the sky is blue and the air is clean, it’s like being in Kathmandu”.
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