Description
The Royal Armory of Turin is a collection of antique weapons and armor housed in the wing linking the Royal Palace to the State Secretariats, inside the complex of the Savoy residences. From the Neolithic to the 1900s, it is one of the richest museums of its kind, on a par with the armories of Madrid, Vienna and the Knights of Malta.
It is a visit for anyone who loves history and weapons, but also for those looking for a spectacular hall: the objects are displayed under a painted vault, among swords, suits of armor and banners.
The Beaumont Gallery, designed by Filippo Juvarra between 1732 and 1734 and decorated by Claudio Francesco Beaumont with the Stories of Aeneas on the vault, is reason enough to go in. A little farther on is the Rotunda room, from 1842, and the staircase by Benedetto Alfieri.
Among the most precious pieces is the Sword of St. Maurice, a 13th-century Savoy relic, kept with its 15th-century case of painted and gilded leather. Then the sword Napoleon used in the Egyptian campaign and at Marengo, and the armor of Emmanuel Philibert.
There are curious pieces too: the three-barreled pistol of Charles V, a parade shield of Henry II, a Japanese suit of armor given to Victor Emmanuel II in 1870, a Smith & Wesson revolver presented to Victor Emmanuel III. And over 250 banners, mostly from the wars of the Risorgimento.
The Medal Cabinet, in a room attached to the gallery, has Neo-Greek furniture designed by Pelagio Palagi and about 33,000 coins, medals and seals.
It all began with an empty gallery. In 1832 King Charles Albert moved the court's paintings to the new Picture Gallery, and the gallery of the Royal Palace found itself with bare walls. The king had an idea.
He brought in the weapons the Savoys had collected, and in 1837 opened them to the public. To the arsenals of Turin and Genoa were soon added collections bought from private owners, such as that of the Milanese stage designer Alessandro Sanquirico, and then diplomatic gifts from half the world, which is where the Oriental and African weapons come from.
Don't miss
• The Beaumont Gallery.
• The Sword of St. Maurice.
• The armor of Emmanuel Philibert.
• The Medal Cabinet.
Did you know?
• The Medal Cabinet's coin collection began in 1832, when Charles Albert bought that of Domenico Promis and made him curator.
• The Medal Cabinet's furniture is Neo-Greek: Palagi designed it specifically for Charles Albert's coins.
It is a visit for anyone who loves history and weapons, but also for those looking for a spectacular hall: the objects are displayed under a painted vault, among swords, suits of armor and banners.
The Beaumont Gallery, designed by Filippo Juvarra between 1732 and 1734 and decorated by Claudio Francesco Beaumont with the Stories of Aeneas on the vault, is reason enough to go in. A little farther on is the Rotunda room, from 1842, and the staircase by Benedetto Alfieri.
Among the most precious pieces is the Sword of St. Maurice, a 13th-century Savoy relic, kept with its 15th-century case of painted and gilded leather. Then the sword Napoleon used in the Egyptian campaign and at Marengo, and the armor of Emmanuel Philibert.
There are curious pieces too: the three-barreled pistol of Charles V, a parade shield of Henry II, a Japanese suit of armor given to Victor Emmanuel II in 1870, a Smith & Wesson revolver presented to Victor Emmanuel III. And over 250 banners, mostly from the wars of the Risorgimento.
The Medal Cabinet, in a room attached to the gallery, has Neo-Greek furniture designed by Pelagio Palagi and about 33,000 coins, medals and seals.
It all began with an empty gallery. In 1832 King Charles Albert moved the court's paintings to the new Picture Gallery, and the gallery of the Royal Palace found itself with bare walls. The king had an idea.
He brought in the weapons the Savoys had collected, and in 1837 opened them to the public. To the arsenals of Turin and Genoa were soon added collections bought from private owners, such as that of the Milanese stage designer Alessandro Sanquirico, and then diplomatic gifts from half the world, which is where the Oriental and African weapons come from.
Don't miss
• The Beaumont Gallery.
• The Sword of St. Maurice.
• The armor of Emmanuel Philibert.
• The Medal Cabinet.
Did you know?
• The Medal Cabinet's coin collection began in 1832, when Charles Albert bought that of Domenico Promis and made him curator.
• The Medal Cabinet's furniture is Neo-Greek: Palagi designed it specifically for Charles Albert's coins.