Description
Piazza San Carlo is the "drawing room" of Turin: a rectangular square, 168 meters long and 76 wide, in the old town, along Via Roma, halfway between Piazza Castello and Piazza Carlo Felice. Elegant arcades, a monument in the middle, two churches at the far end and the historic cafés.
It is the right place for anyone who wants a taste of Turin without rushing: you stroll under the arcades, stop to look at the buildings, sit down in a historic café. Its present look dates from the 1600s, with the design of Carlo di Castellamonte, enriched in the 1700s by Benedetto Alfieri.
In the center stands the Caval ëd Bronz, the "bronze horse" in Piedmontese: the monument to Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, by Carlo Marochetti, unveiled in 1838. The duke on horseback is sheathing his sword and holds the reins short: it celebrates the victory of San Quintino, but symbolizes peace.
On the south side are the two "twin" churches, Santa Cristina and San Carlo. In fact they are not: over time they copied each other. The facade of Santa Cristina is by Filippo Juvarra, from 1716, that of San Carlo is from 1835.
Under the arcades, the Caffè San Carlo, frequented by Cavour and Giolitti, was the first place in Italy with gas lighting, to show off the stuccoes and statues. A little farther on, the Caffè Torino, frequented by Cesare Pavese and Alcide De Gasperi.
In front of Caffè Torino, in the pavement, is a small brass bull, the symbol of the city: according to tradition, stepping on its "attributes" brings good luck.
In 1706, during the French siege, the square was hit by at least three cannonballs: three balls are still lodged in the walls, one above an arch of Palazzo Solaro del Borgo and two near the upper windows, on the side toward Via Alfieri.
In 1864 the people of Turin took to the square to protest the transfer of the capital to Florence. The repression was ruthless: many died, and three days later the head of government, Minghetti, had to resign.
Before becoming the elegant drawing room, the square was called Piazza Reale, then for a century it was the parade ground where armies marched, and between 1931 and 1937, with the rebuilding of Via Roma, the north side was reconstructed.
It is the right place for anyone who wants a taste of Turin without rushing: you stroll under the arcades, stop to look at the buildings, sit down in a historic café. Its present look dates from the 1600s, with the design of Carlo di Castellamonte, enriched in the 1700s by Benedetto Alfieri.
In the center stands the Caval ëd Bronz, the "bronze horse" in Piedmontese: the monument to Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, by Carlo Marochetti, unveiled in 1838. The duke on horseback is sheathing his sword and holds the reins short: it celebrates the victory of San Quintino, but symbolizes peace.
On the south side are the two "twin" churches, Santa Cristina and San Carlo. In fact they are not: over time they copied each other. The facade of Santa Cristina is by Filippo Juvarra, from 1716, that of San Carlo is from 1835.
Under the arcades, the Caffè San Carlo, frequented by Cavour and Giolitti, was the first place in Italy with gas lighting, to show off the stuccoes and statues. A little farther on, the Caffè Torino, frequented by Cesare Pavese and Alcide De Gasperi.
In front of Caffè Torino, in the pavement, is a small brass bull, the symbol of the city: according to tradition, stepping on its "attributes" brings good luck.
In 1706, during the French siege, the square was hit by at least three cannonballs: three balls are still lodged in the walls, one above an arch of Palazzo Solaro del Borgo and two near the upper windows, on the side toward Via Alfieri.
In 1864 the people of Turin took to the square to protest the transfer of the capital to Florence. The repression was ruthless: many died, and three days later the head of government, Minghetti, had to resign.
Before becoming the elegant drawing room, the square was called Piazza Reale, then for a century it was the parade ground where armies marched, and between 1931 and 1937, with the rebuilding of Via Roma, the north side was reconstructed.