Savoy Residences
Palazzo Carignano (Torino)
Category: Savoy Residences
The palace, one of the most important poles within the central urban structure, was commissioned by Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoia-Carignano and was built from a design by Guarino Guarini in 1679. Considered one of the palace masterpieces of Italian Baroque, it stands out due its curvaceous façade, its oval staircase, and, above all, its extraordinary decorative display filled with symbols, allusions, and metaphors in terra cotta clay. The interior, among the most precious and refined of Piedmont Baroque, houses the Museum of Italian Unification (Risorgimento –late 19th century). Also the Sub-Alpine House of Parliament deserves special mention. The present quadrangular structure is due to the addition of the 19th century factory building to house the Italian Parliament, which ended in 1871 when the capital was moved to Rome, while the central oval hall, already destined for parties, was transformed into the hall of the First Sub-Alpine Parliament in 1848.
When restoration ends, visitors will be able to tour the prestigious rooms, furnished and frescoed by the main Italian artists of the 17th and 1`8th century, which, together with the Collegio dei Nobili, the Church of San Lorenzo, and the Chapel of the Sindone, will give visitors the opportunity to appreciate the genius of Guarini, one of the most important Italian architects.
Information
Via Dell'Accademia delle Scienze, 5 - 10123 Torino
Tel. +39.011.5621147/3719
E-mail: cultura@regione.piemonte.it
www.regione.piemonte.it
