Monument to the Crimean Expedition, Turin
Monument to the Crimean Expedition (Monumento alla Spedizione di Crimea) is dedicated to the Italian soldiers, victims of the Crimean War. A small reminder of the lives of ordinary people, given for other people's ideals in a foreign war. Politicians make mistakes and people suffer. In 1855, Count Cavour decided to support the Ottoman Empire in the war with Russia. By that time, England and France were on the side of the Turks at war, and he wanted to get their alliance in a future war with Austria. In short – it is politics. At the same time, an expeditionary force of 18,000 people was sent to the Crimea. They took part in the battles on the Chorna River and the siege of Sevastopol. In that conflict, more than 4,500 soldiers died, including General Alessandro la Marmora, most of them as a result of diseases of cholera and typhus.
In 30 years, the idea to honor the memory of those killed in that war was born. Professor of the Academy of "Albertina", sculptor Luigi Belli took part in the creation of the monument. The project was approved in 1887, and the work was carried out since 1888. The official celebration of the opening of the monument took place on June 1, 1892 in the presence of the city authorities and the King of Italy Umberto I.
Sculptural composition
The monument is 18 meters high, thanks to which it is perfectly visible from the embankment of the Po River. Red granite, white marble and bronze were used to create it. The high obelisk has the shape of a truncated pyramid. There is a sculptural group of 3 figures at its base on the pedestal. In the center there is a woman in a robe with a helmet as a symbol of Piedmont's victory. On both sides of it there are statues of a sailor and bersalier as symbols of the fleet and army. On the side and back sides of the base there are bronze bas-reliefs with images of the arms of the Allied countries and episodes from the Battle of Chorna River and the siege of Sevastopol. Flower beds are planted around the monument.
How to get there
The monument is located on the eastern bank of the Po River, in the Borgo Crimea area, in the middle of the Piazza Crimea. Nearby there is the National Mountain Museum and the Umberto I Bridge. You can reach the monument by buses № 33, 52, 66, 70, 73. Crimea stop.
