Monument to Carlo Nicolis, Turin
Monumento a Carlo Nicolis di Robilant in Turin is one of the copious monuments to the famous statesmen of the 19th century, which are strewn around the city. The influential Italian diplomat, Count Carlo Felice Nicolis, had Prussian roots. During the war with Austria in 1848-1849, he worked as an adjutant to the King of Piedmont, Carl Albert, and lost his left hand in the battle of Novara. Once the truce was established, he married an Austrian noblewoman. After occupying the position of a military school director, in 1871, Carlo became the ambassador of Italy in Austria. In 1882, due to his active participation, the Triple Alliance was signed. After that, the Count took up his post as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Carlo Felice Nicolis passed away in 1888.
As is the rule in Italy, right after the death of the Count a committee was established to raise funds for the construction of the monument. In 1889, projects were submitted and a place for the monument was chosen. The sculptor Giacomo Gianotti undertook the creation of the statue in 1894. In 1900, the monument was solemnly opened.
Sculpture
The monument was erected in Giardino Cavour Park on a hillside located a few blocks away from the Po river. Its overall height is almost 8 metres. The pedestal was made of granite, and the statues were made of bronze. The pedestal is crowned with a sculpture of a diplomat in military uniform proudly holding a hat in his right hand. A sculpture of a woman decorated with small bronze bas-reliefs is placed at the foot of the pedestal. She holds a closed book in her right hand and a branch in her left hand. Her face is veiled. This statue symbolizes diplomacy since the Count Carlo Felice Nicolis was an expert in it.
How to get there
The sculptural composition of Carlo Nicolis is located in the middle of a beautiful park, in Piazza Cavour, 2b. Nearby there is Giardino Aiuola Balbo Park that has several more statues to famous people. Near it, on the peak of a hill, there is the Turin Museum of Natural History. Use buses (routes 61, 94) or trams (route 1) to get there and get off at the Piazza Cavour stop.
