Porta Fibellona Castle, Turin
Porta Fibellona Castle in Turin (Castello di Porta Fibellona) is a gloomy medieval fortress that is the back side of the Palazzo Madama. It is located in the center of the city and very vividly contrasts with the light Baroque palaces that surround it. This building is one of the oldest in Turin.
History of the castle
The roots of the creation of the castle go back to the beginning of the 1st century. Then there were the eastern gate of the ancient Roman city Augusta Taurinorum. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city gates were gradually turned into a fortified castle. There was also a gate that had already received the current name in those days. Historians still do not have an exact version of the origin of this name. They are more inclined to the variant, according to which the name came from the "filii Bellonis", that is, descendants of an aristocrat who owned the castle in the 11th century. In the 13th century the fortress became the property of the family Savoia-Acaja, the youngest branch of the ruling house.
In the course of 1295-1319, Prince Filippo d'Acaia conducted a large-scale reconstruction in the castle. Since then, the structure and appearance of the main façade of the building, which was named Palazzo Madama, changed. In 1892, during the excavations, the Fibellon Gate itself was discovered, that were passing the inhabitants of the surrounding villages through the fortress to the city.
Architecture
The building is a typical medieval fortress. On both sides of it, there are powerful towers, in the wall there is a number of small windows. This bastion is radically different from the opposite façade of the palace, converted in the Baroque style. The purpose of the building, like its history, was closely intertwined with the ruling house of Savoy. Now, the Museum of Ancient Art is situated here. Besides the permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions are held here regularly. The excursion tour of the museum is closely connected with the route, which highlights the rich history of the castle.
How to get there
Porta Fibellona Castle is located in the heart of historic Turin, on the Piazza Castello. In the vicinity, there are many attractions, including the Museum of Antiquity, the Turin Cathedral, the Royal Palace and the Roman Theater. On the square there is a bus stop Castello. Trams № 7, 13, 15, and buses № 13N, 55, 56, 3904, 3991, N04, N10, S04, W01, W15, W60 go to it.
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00. The ticket office closes at 17:00. Tuesday is the day off. Phone number (+39) 011 4433501.
Admission: the price of the full ticket is 10 euro, with a discount – 8 euro. For people under the age of 18 – admission is free. Also free entry on the first Wednesday of the month.Data of May 2018.
