Obelisk to the Siccardi Laws, Turin
The obelisk to the Siccardi Laws in Turin (Obelisco alle Leggi Siccardi) towers over one of the squares in the centre of the city. A lawyer and a politician, Giuseppe Siccardi, worked as a justice minister only for 2 years. While the revolution was in full swing, he passed rather contentious and sensational laws. As the secular state was being established, on 9 April and 5 June, 1850, laws that abolished the privileges of the Catholic clergy were issued. Naturally, the archbishop of Turin called priests for an active protest. As a result, he was fined and imprisoned for a month. The liberal press picked this news up, supporting the minister. At the instigation of the journalists, a considerable sum of 70,000 lire was collected for the erection of the monument.
After fierce discussions with the clergy, the first stone was placed in the base of the obelisk on 17 June, 1852. Luigi Quarenghi's project was the cheapest to implement, which is why it was chosen. The monument was opened on 23 November, 1853. The location near one of the oldest churches of Turin, Santuario della Consolata, was chosen deliberately. During the Second World War, the monument was damaged, but by 1945 it had been repaired. The second restoration dates back to 1993.
Monument
The obelisk perfectly complements the square and surrounding buildings. A truncated pyramid is made of red granite and has a height of 22 metres. All sides of it are covered with inscriptions. Among them are the names of 800 municipalities that supported the laws of Siccardi and donated money for the construction.
An inscription on the pedestal enumerates the privileges cancelled by the scandalous laws. There is also another curious phrase engraved: "The Law is for All". At the beginning of the construction, a time capsule was placed under the base of the pyramid. It contains a copy of the Siccardi laws, several coins, rice seeds, bread, a bottle of Barbera, and 141 and 142 issues of Gazzetta del Popolo, containing calls to support the creation of the monument.
How to get there
The obelisk is set in the historic part of Turin, in Piazza Savoia, where 4 streets converge in the centre. Obelisco alle Leggi Siccardi is surrounded by landmarks worth visiting. The Saluzzo Palace, School Museum and the Barolo Palace stand next to it. A hundred metres away there are public transport stops, San Domenico and Orfane, which can be reached by the buses 52, 67, STAR2.
