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Carignano Palace, Turin

Carignano Palace, Turin

Carignano Palace (Palazzo dei Principi di Carignano) in Turin is one of the most luxurious palaces in the city. It is famous not only for its historical importance, but also for its two façades, that visually differ radically. From one side – it is a typical representative of the Baroque style, and from the other – a radically pretentious and beautiful palace. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of the palazzo

The largest mansion was planned as the residence of the youngest branch of Carignano from the ruling house of Savoy. Its construction was commissioned by Prince Emanuele Filiberto, nicknamed "Il Muto". The palace was designed by the famous theologist and architect Guarino Guarini. Works were conducted from 1679 and ended already after the death of the architect in 1684. It was here that the future kings Charles Albert and Victor Emmanuel II were born.

In 1831 the building became the property of the state and meetings of the State Council of Sardinia were held here. In 1848, the Palazzo began to hold sessions of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia. For this, the architect Carlo Sada designed a beautiful ellipsoid room in the center of the building. After the unification of Italy, the hall became too small to accommodate all parliamentarians, and the architect Domenico Ferri took up the expansion of the building in 1863. The work ended in 1871, but by that time the capital was already in Florence, and the premises were never used for their intended purpose.

In 1898, the palace was recognized as the National Monument of Italy. Before that, two significant events took place: the reading and approval of Statuto Albertino in 1848 and the proclamation of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1861. In the 20th century the old mansion was a shelter for several institutes and cultural associations. In 1997, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A little earlier, in 1988, a fundamental restoration began, lasting until 2011. Then the residence opened its doors to visitors. And today it houses the National Museum of Risorgimento, which is the main among its kind in all of Italy.

Architecture and interior

Carignano Palace is not inferior to other residences of the ruling house: Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace. During the construction, the architect adhered to the Baroque style, but took a number of very radical decisions that added to the uniqueness of the building. It was built with ordinary brick, but how! Originally, the mansion had a U-shaped layout, the side wings covered the courtyard. Ideas for the façade were drawn from the projects of the Louvre in Paris and the works of Borromini. The façade has a wavy form, in which convexities and concavities alternate. The oval central tower resembles an inset in the main building. The brick of the façade is made of terracotta, but it is done in a very elegant way. The main entrance is framed by two pairs of marble columns. Above it is there is a frieze with the inscription "Qvi Nacqve Vittorio Emanvele II", placed here in 1884.

During the expansion, a rear façade was added, radically different from the main one. It is made in an eclectic pseudo-Renaissance style, with a white stone and pink plaster. It is decorated with luxurious pilasters and columns, marble statues and bas-reliefs. And the first floor has a typical portico for Turin. In the central part of the palazzo there is a lobby with a double dome, and curved stairs leading upward. The interior of the building is full of frescoes, decorative plaster and various ornaments. It is also one of the most luxurious in Turin.

How to get there

The Palazzo is located in the heart of historic Turin, on Via Accademia delle Scienze, 5. Its façade faces Piazza Carignano and Piazza Carlo Alberto. Famous Museo Egizio is nearby. And there is a public transport stop at Piazza Castello, which is 5 minutes away. Trams № 7, 13, 15, and buses № 13N, 55, 56, 3904, 3991, N04, N10, S04, W01, W15, W60 run to it.

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00. Monday is the day off. The ticket office closes at 17:00. Phone number for information and booking: (+39) 011 5641791.

Entrance: the price of the full ticket is 5 euros, with a discount (students of EU countries from 18-25) – 2.5 euros. For those under the age of 18, admission is free. Also there is free entry on the first Sunday of the month. Free guided tours are available for groups of up to 25 people per hour. Data of May 2018.

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