Buildings of historical importance
Palazzo Graneri della Roccia (Torino)
Category: Buildings of historical importance
This palace was commissioned by Abbot Graneri and built at the end of the sixteen hundreds, using stone from Gassino, by architect Gianfrancesco Baroncelli. Palazzo Graneri della Roccia was for a long time the seat of the French Ambassador, and because of this symbolic significance was later chosen by Cavour to announce the engagement of Princess Clotilde with Prince Gerolamo Buonaparte, that is the alliance between the Savoy family and the Emperor Napoleone III. Previously the people of Piemonte, described by Carducci as “di fumo, polve e di vittorie allegri” (happy for the smoke, dust and victories), used to hold the dinner here that celebrated the victory of the Assietta against the French, which ended in 1706 the siege of Torino where Pietro Micca was killed. Palazzo Graneri has been home of the Circolo degli Artisti (Artists’ Circle) since 1858, and it was a meeting place for liberal intellectuals during the Risorgimento. The Circle later had an important role in the field of music, so much so that in the Salone d’Onore (Hall of Honour) Arturo Toscanini, Alfredo Casella and the great tenor Francesco Tamagno all performed. Since 2006 Palazzo Granari has become home of the Circolo dei lettori (Readers’ Circle), promoted by the Regione Piemonte; this is the year of Torino capitale del Libro con Roma (Torino capital of books with Roma).
Information
Via Bogino, 9 - 10123 Torino
