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Description
Piazza Carignano is one of the historic squares in the city of Turin. Located near Piazza Castello, it is bordered by Via Accademia delle Scienze, Via Cesare Battisti and Via Principe Amedeo.
It is completely surrounded by remarkable Baroque architecture, among which the imposing structure of Palazzo Carignano, one of the major symbols of the Italian Risorgimento, stands out. Opposite it, there is the Teatro Carignano and some important city venues such as the famous Ristorante del Cambio and the historic Gelateria Pepino. A statue dedicated to Vincenzo Gioberti adorns the center of the square.
The small size (approximately 88x33 meters), the monumentality of the curved facade of Palazzo Carignano and the nearby presence of prestigious institutions in Via dell'Accademia delle Scienze, such as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, make the square one of the most suggestive corners of art, history and monuments in the historic center of Turin.
The pedestrianization has made the square's intimate atmosphere even more enjoyable.
The square was opened during the expansion of the city of Turin planned by Duke Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy: the elegant palace, intended for Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Carignano "the Mute", was built starting in 1679 on what had been the stables of Prince Tommaso Francesco of Savoy. The project, entrusted to Guarino Guarini, envisaged an elegant garden on the side facing the Po River and, on the square, the famous sinuous facade, a pearl of Baroque architecture. The works continued until 1685, making this palace one of the most important buildings in Turin.
Subsequently, when the Savoy of Carignano inherited the subalpine throne, the palace and the homonymous square became the scene of those events that would make the history of united Italy. As the monumental inscription on the top of the palace remembers, 'QVI NACQVE VITTORIO EMANVELE II', and from the sumptuous balcony the signing of the Statute Albertino was announced. Inside the palace, the first Parliament of united Italy was set up.
In front of Palazzo Carignano, there is the theater that takes its name from the square. The Teatro Carignano stands in place of what was the city of Turin's pelota court (called the Trincotto Rosso). It was Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy-Carignano who, in 1709, had boxes set up to transform the hall into a theater, which was then opened to the public during the 1711 Carnival. Throughout history, numerous authors, from Carlo Goldoni to Vittorio Alfieri, performed here.
Adjacent to the theater is the famous Il Cambio restaurant. Existing since the 18th century, Il Cambio owes its fame to the illustrious people who used to have lunch there: among them, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour and Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy. Finally, in 1859, the monument dedicated to Vincenzo Gioberti, a work by the Val d'Ossola sculptor Giovanni Albertoni, was inaugurated.
It is completely surrounded by remarkable Baroque architecture, among which the imposing structure of Palazzo Carignano, one of the major symbols of the Italian Risorgimento, stands out. Opposite it, there is the Teatro Carignano and some important city venues such as the famous Ristorante del Cambio and the historic Gelateria Pepino. A statue dedicated to Vincenzo Gioberti adorns the center of the square.
The small size (approximately 88x33 meters), the monumentality of the curved facade of Palazzo Carignano and the nearby presence of prestigious institutions in Via dell'Accademia delle Scienze, such as the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, make the square one of the most suggestive corners of art, history and monuments in the historic center of Turin.
The pedestrianization has made the square's intimate atmosphere even more enjoyable.
The square was opened during the expansion of the city of Turin planned by Duke Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy: the elegant palace, intended for Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Carignano "the Mute", was built starting in 1679 on what had been the stables of Prince Tommaso Francesco of Savoy. The project, entrusted to Guarino Guarini, envisaged an elegant garden on the side facing the Po River and, on the square, the famous sinuous facade, a pearl of Baroque architecture. The works continued until 1685, making this palace one of the most important buildings in Turin.
Subsequently, when the Savoy of Carignano inherited the subalpine throne, the palace and the homonymous square became the scene of those events that would make the history of united Italy. As the monumental inscription on the top of the palace remembers, 'QVI NACQVE VITTORIO EMANVELE II', and from the sumptuous balcony the signing of the Statute Albertino was announced. Inside the palace, the first Parliament of united Italy was set up.
In front of Palazzo Carignano, there is the theater that takes its name from the square. The Teatro Carignano stands in place of what was the city of Turin's pelota court (called the Trincotto Rosso). It was Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy-Carignano who, in 1709, had boxes set up to transform the hall into a theater, which was then opened to the public during the 1711 Carnival. Throughout history, numerous authors, from Carlo Goldoni to Vittorio Alfieri, performed here.
Adjacent to the theater is the famous Il Cambio restaurant. Existing since the 18th century, Il Cambio owes its fame to the illustrious people who used to have lunch there: among them, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour and Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy. Finally, in 1859, the monument dedicated to Vincenzo Gioberti, a work by the Val d'Ossola sculptor Giovanni Albertoni, was inaugurated.