Piazza Castello is the heart of Turin's historic city centre. Its northern side is occupied by the splendid Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale). This gorgeous nouveau-riche residential complex was constructed during the 16th century for Maria Cristina of France, wife of the Savoy duke - Vittorio Amedeo I. The building was designed by the talented Italian architect of the time - Carlo di Castellamonte. The palace features a very graceful façade and refined interiors with glitzy halls, gilded from the very bottom to the ceiling and decorated with impressive allegorical paintings. Guided tours inside Palazzo Reale are held every 40 minutes during all week days except Mondays, from 9:00 to 19:00 and cost around € 7 per person. Right next to the western wing of the Royal Palace is located the exclusive church devoted to San Lorenzo, built in the 17th century. Its complex architectural plan was designed by Guarino Guarini. The magnificent dome is erected over overlapping semi-circular walls. The church’s interiors are richly decorated with multicolored marble, various statuettes and fetching frescoes. Close to the eastern wing of the palace is situated the Royal Armory (Armeria Reale). It keeps a large collection of weapons, dating back to different ages and gathered from almost all continents. The collection was started by in the first half of 19th century by Carlo Alberto, king of Piedmont-Sardinia. Here you can also see his realistically stuffed horse, surrounded by various swords, guns and ammunitions. A separate room is devoted to some blood-curdling weapons from the Orient, including sumptuous Turkish yataghan sheaths and intimidating masks from Japan. In the same structure is found the Royal Library (Biblioteca Reale) too. It is not open for public use and only for historians and scientists, as it keeps very precious ancient manuscripts and a valuable collection of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Bellini and Rembrandt, which are sometimes displayed for the large public.
Palazzo Madama
At the opposite site of Piazza Castello you will see the even more attractive Palazzo Madama. It boasts an elaborate Baroque façade with an elegant colonnade, crowned by four statues. The façade was designed in the first quarter of 18th century by the talented architect working for the House of Savoy - Filippo Juvarra. He made a major reconstruction of the entire square and the streets around it too. The original palace dates back to the 14th-century when it was constructed on the site of an earlier 13th-century castle and an ancient Roman gate, remains of the latter two monument can be still seen in the interiors of Palazzo Madama. You can also see inside authentic medieval and Renaissance furniture, as well as ideally preserved frescoes. The palace also house the City Museum of Ancient Art, showing a much varied display, including everything from gold objects dating back to the time of the early Christianity to an inlaid Gothic commode.
The Duomo viewed from Piazza Castello
Next to the Royal Palace’s western side and accessible through a narrow passage from Piazza Castello is located the Cathedral of Turin or the Duomo. It was built in the 15th century is in the only significant representative of the Renaissance architectural art in the city. Unfortunately the church was seriously damaged by a huge fire in 1997 and some parts of it are still under restoration. The most attractive monument in the Cathedral is without any doubt the Holy Shroud Chapel, constructed in the 17th century by Guarino Guarini. The chapel keeps the renowned Turin Shroud, a relic often referred to as the most famous forgery in history. This is a piece of linen with a man’s image imprinted on it and believed to be the holy shroud in which the body of Christ was covered under the Crucifixion. The contemporary science proved by radiocarbon dating that it was created in the late medieval time and is therefore a fake. But it could not explain how the medieval fakers managed to imprint the mystic image of a man. The shroud is on public display only once per 25 years and for some religious holidays. You can see a detailed photographic reproduction of the shroud instead. It is displayed in the left part of the nave and very clearly shows the image of a bearded man with a head crowned by a wreath of thorns and a body bearing traces of wounds made by whip. If your curiosity is not satisfied you can visit the separate Museum of the Shroud (Museo della Sindone), which is entirely dedicated to the history of this holy piece of linen.
The few remains of the time when Turin was a Roman military colony can be seen around the Cathedral. They include remains of an ancient amphitheatre and the majestic Porta Palatina, a tremendous ancient structure made of stone, bricks and mortar, representing four arched entrances in a high wall, flanked by two even higher 16-sided towers. Both the wall and the towers are decorated with arched windows.
A short walk north-west of Piazza Castello is Piazza della Republica. The square has been recently restored and shows in its full shine the unrivalled professional skills of the early 18th-century Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra. On the piazza’s northern side is Porta Palazzo, known mainly for the popular flea market held here every Saturday.
A couple of steps west of Piazza della Republica is situated the most famous church of Turin - Santuario della Consolata. It is an elegant building with oval shape and Neoclassical façade. Its plan was created by the other talented Baroque architect working for the House of Savoy - Guarino Guarini. The church was built in the 17th century to keep a holy statue of the Madonna, honoured as a patron saint of the city. It also contains a remarkable decorative altar, created by Filippo Juvarra.
South of Piazza Castello, along the elegant Via Roma, you will find the amazing Palazzo Carignano. The history of this graceful palace is closely related to the political and social movement during the 19th century for unification of Italy. In the building was born the first king of united Italy - Vittorio Emanuele II. Today the pallazo is occupied by the National Museum of The Resurgence (Museo del Risorgimento), showing a rich display with a large part of it dedicated to the eccentric revolutionary leader of the Risorgimento - Giuseppe Garibaldi. Visitors can also see the well-preserved circular chamber of the palace where the first parliament of the newly-united Italy was held.
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