Monument to Guglielmo Pepe, Turin
The monument to Guglielmo Pepe in Turin commemorates a true patriot. Like many other statues, it is located on the square in the centre of the city. Proudly towering over the surroundings, the monument reminds the Italians about the price their ancestors paid for freedom.
Personality and history of creation
Guglielmo Pepe was a Neapolitan general and a bright revolutionary who made significant efforts in the first independence war with Austria. In 1848, he was sent to Turin to help the King of Piedmont, Carl Albert. After the withdrawal of troops by the Sicilian King Ferdinand II, Pepe refused to obey and crossed the Po river together with 16,000 soldiers. He continued to help the uprising and died in Turin in 1855.
After the death of the general, a local committee quickly collected funds to build the monument. It was created by the sculptor Stefano Butti. The opening took place on 3 May, 1858 in Giardino dei Ripari Park. At the celebration, the MP, Count Terenzio Mamiani, called General Pepe the image of unbridled Italian independence. In 1874, the monument was moved to the square of Maria Theresa. In 2002, illumination for it was set.
Sculpture
The monument has a total height of almost 6 metres. The pedestal is made of gray granite and has an engraved text commemorating the general. On the top of it is a statue of white Carrara marble. The general is depicted in his military uniform. He points at the bank of the Po river, which soldiers had to cross in search of an enemy. At the feet of the commander, there are objects reminiscent of the turbulent events of 1848. Among them are symbolic waves of the Po river, a cannon, a flag, two rifles, and a written decree on the withdrawal of troops from Piedmont which the general disobeyed.
How to get there
The monument is located on 5, Piazza Maria Teresa in front of a small round park. Two blocks from the monument, the Museum of Natural Sciences is situated. In the opposite direction on the bank of the Po looms a statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi. The nearest stop, Cavour, is 4 minutes' walk. It can be reached by the buses № 6, 18, 61, 68, S05, S18, STAR2.
