Carignano
Welcome to Palazzo Carignano
Hello everyone! Welcome to Palazzo Carignano, one of the jewels of Piedmontese Baroque in the historic center of Turin. This historic building is considered one of the most important in the city alongside Palazzo Reale di Torino and Palazzo Madama e Casaforte degli Acaja. It is also part of the UNESCO serial site Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in Piedmont. Here's everything you need to know about Palazzo Carignano.
History of Palazzo Carignano
The palace was commissioned by Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia-Carignano to the Theatine father Guarino Guarini, one of the most important intellectuals of the time. The works began in 1679 and were carried forward by Guarini's collaborator Gian Francesco Baroncelli. In 1694, Palazzo Carignano became the stable residence of the Savoia-Carignano and Carlo Alberto di Carignano and his wife Maria Teresa Asburgo Lorena lived in the ground floor apartments facing south. Here, Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia was also born, which is remembered by a decorative frieze on the facade with the inscription "QVI NACQVE VITTORIO EMANVELE II", added in 1884.
In 1831, the palace was sold to the State and used as the seat of the Council of State and the Post Office Directorate. In 1848, the building was destined to be the seat of the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament and the architect Carlo Sada modified the splendid hall of the festivities. In 1861, with the opening of the first Italian Parliament, it was decided to expand the palace towards the east to accommodate a larger Parliament hall. The project was entrusted to the architect Domenico Ferri and the execution to Giuseppe Bollati. The works began in 1863 and ended in 1871, but the large hall was never used for the purpose for which it was built.
Palazzo Carignano today
Today, Palazzo Carignano is divided into two parts. On the ground floor there are the offices of the regional direction of museums of Piedmont, while on the first floor there is the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento. The museum was reopened after a long restoration on March 18, 2011 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.
The Museum of the Italian Risorgimento has a vast collection of works of art, documents and historical objects covering the period from the end of the eighteenth century to the First World War. You can see furniture, costumes, weapons and objects used by important historical figures such as Giuseppe Garibaldi, Camillo di Cavour and Vittorio Emanuele II.
Beyond the museum, Palazzo Carignano is a work of art in itself. The Baroque façade with its elliptical shape has been preserved intact, as has the monumental staircase, which leads to the central atrium decorated with splendid frescoes.
Practical information
Palazzo Carignano is open every day except Monday from 10:00 to 18:00. The admission ticket for the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento is 10 euros for adults while admission is free for children under 18 and for residents of the Municipality of Turin. If you want to make the most of your visit to Turin, I recommend purchasing the Torino+Piemonte Card which will give you free access to many museums, monuments and attractions.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of Palazzo Carignano! I recommend visiting it if you are in Turin, you won't regret it! The palace is not only an architectural gem, but also offers an in-depth look at the political history of our country. If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to ask!
