Monument of Giuseppe Mazzini, Turin
The monument of Giuseppe Mazzini is located in the center of Turin. However, it is not very noticeable. This monument does not stand on a huge square or in front of a majestic palace. This is more typical for more famous personalities. It will remain in an inconspicuous, but still a busy place.
Personality and history of the monument
The monument is dedicated to the famous Italian writer, philosopher and revolutionary. Already in the first half of the 19th century, his revolutionary ideas began to turn into the creation of secret societies. As a result, Giuseppe soon found himself in exile supporting the emerging revolution from abroad. He was the one who became the ideological leader and engine of the Risorgimento. The writer returned to Italy in 1848 and joined Garibaldi actively supporting the unification in whole Italy. He expressed his strong cosmopolitan views wishing to see a unified Europe without all sorts of political schemes. More than 50,000 people attended the funeral of the revolutionary in 1972.
In 1911, as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the unification of Italy, a committee was created that started the creation of the monument to Giuseppe Mazzini in Turin. However, the idea was presented by a party and therefore did not find the support of the authorities. In 1913, a new committee was created whose proposal was approved by the local government. The sculptor Luigi Belli, a professor at the Albertina Academy, was put in charge of the project. The monument was cast in Milan then transported by train to Turin. The opening took place on July 22, 1917, the celebration wasn’t huge given the military activities.
Sculpture
At the top of the monument, there is a 2.6 meters high bronze statue of a revolutionary. He sits in a high-backed chair gazing thoughtfully at his surroundings. The pedestal is made of granite, its height is 3 meters. Bronze supports are placed on the sides of the statue. In the center of the base, there is a bronze relief which depicts a she-wolf feeding babies. Such an illustration symbolizes not only Rome but also the Republic of Italy itself., the pedestal is decorated with laurel wreaths On both sides of the bas-relief that frame engraved names of Giuseppe Mazzini's associates.
How to get
The monument is located in the heart of Turin. It is hidden in a narrow square in among the buildings at the intersection of Via Andrea Doria and Via dei Mille. The Museum of Natural History is located nearby, Turin railway station is a few blocks south. You can get here by bus STAR2, get off at the stop Bodoni. Tram № 9 and buses № 6, 24, 33, 52, 61, 67, 68, 93 stop on Carlo Alberto which is 5 minutes away from here.
