Monument of Quintino Sella, Turin
Monument of Quintino Sella in Turin is located near the banks of the Po River, in the Parco del Valentino. It is one of many monuments of the city dedicated to famous personalities of the 19th century. But it has little to do with prominent event of those times – Risorgimento. The monument is dedicated to a scientist, financier, climber and only then – politician. Quintino Sella was that versatile of the person. Having received an engineering education in Paris, he returned to Turin. Here he taught and was engaged in scientific activities in the field of mineralogy. The most productive period was between 1862 and 1881. Then he became Minister of Finance in three different governments, founded the Club Alpino Italiano, was elected President of the Academy dei Lincei. Sella advised King Vittorio Emanuele II to transfer the capital of the united Italy from Turin to Rome. He died in 1884 from the fever that had been tormenting him for several years.
After the successful collection of funds for the construction of the monument, in 1891 the project of the sculptor Cesare Reduzzi was approved. The works started in 1892, and the opening took place on March 14, 1894. At first the monument was placed in the inner courtyard of Castello del Valentino, near the Engineering School of Turin University. And in 1932 it was transferred to the current place.
The pedestal was made out of gray granite, and the statue itself is made out of bronze. Quintino Sella is depicted in full length. He looks at some mineral or stone, holding it in his left hand. The geological hammer is in the right hand of the scientist.
How to get there
The monument is located near the central entrance to the Parco del Valentino, in front of the castle, on Viale Mattioli. A few steps away there is the Museum of the Botanical Garden. Nearby there is a busy intersection, and public transport Valentino stop is situated here. It can be reached by trams № 9, 16CS, 16CD, and bus № 299. A 3-minute walk will take you to the Marconi bus stop that can be reached by № 18, 67, S18.
