Savoy Residences
Palazzo Madama (Torino)
Category: Savoy Residences
The palace, already a towered castle belonging to the Acaja family, was enlarged and restructured mid-way through the 14th century and in 1420 when it was incorporated into the Roman Porta Pretoria. At the end of the 16th century, Ascanio Vittozzi carried out a series of interior modifications but, above all, conceived the monumental façade in a clearly late Renaissance style. The influential innovation, however, is by Filippo Juvarra who in 1718 added two elements: a Classical-Baroque pavilion characterized by a giant order of pilasters and fluted Corinthian columns and the marble balustrade with reliefs overhead, and the monumental staircase inside. The seat of the Museum of Ancient Art, Palazzo Madama, which owes its name to the royals Marie Christine of France and Maria Giovanna of Savoia Nemours who made the palace their home, maintains an important figurative art collection which came from the crown and from private inheritance. Having undergone a long period of restoration, it was reopened as the seat of the International Olympic Committee during the Winter Olympic Games in Turin 2006.
Information
Piazza Castello - 10100 Torino
Tel. +39.011.4429921
E-mail: palazzomadama@fondazionetorinomusei.it
www.palazzomadamatorino.it
