Turin is a surprising city, always different from what you can think of it.
If you think of a city of factories and work, you will be surprised to discover the elegance of the town centre, the charm of the squares, the arcades, the marvellous buildings of the past capital of Italy.
In 1563 the duke Emanuele Filiberto chose Turin as the residence of the duke of Savoy, and the town become a real capital city. New squares, new streets were built, and a new stile begun: the Piedmontese baroque.
The biggest architects of Europe, like Carlo and Amedeo di Castellamonte, Guarino Guarini, Filippo Juvarra, gave Turin a new face, with new buildings for delegates and nobles.
Castle Square; in the centre of Turin, the baroque gives spectacle of itself: the façade of Madama Palace, the Royal Palace, Chiablese Palace…
Carignano Square, with the wonderful building of Guarini and the palace of the Ancient College of the Nobles, that today houses the Egiptian Museum, the Savoy Gallery and the Science Academy.
Saint Carlo Square, surrounded by arcades and historical noble buildings.
Carlo Emanuele II Square, also called Carlina Square.
The arcades of Po street, with beautiful buildings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
And again Barolo palace, the Town Hall, Lascaris palace, Saluzzo di Paesana Palace… and don’t forget to look at the extraordinary stairs and secret gardens!
The baroque heart of Turin is surprising!
The construction of the palace started in 1646 on commission of Maria Cristina of France, wife of the duke Vittorio Amedeo II. It was the official residence of the Savoy family for more than two centuries. In the reception rooms and in the private apartments, the decorations and the furniture prove how the tastes changed since the seventeenth to the nineteenth century. Le Notre, the same architect of Versaille, planned the remarkable gardens of the palace.
It is situated in the centre of Turin, and tells the story of the city, since it contains the remains of an ancient Roman gate; in the medieval age it was changed into a castle; in the seventeenth century become the residence of the Royal Madam Maria Cristina. In 1721 the architect Filippo Juvarra planned the baroque façade and the wonderful stairs.
In this beautiful palace were born Carlo Alberto and Vittorio Emanuele II. It has a sinuous façade, covered with bricks skilfully worked. The central elliptic hall, in the past used for parties, in 1848 was changed into the hall for the first Subalpine Parliament. Now it houses the National Risorgimental Museum

This charming seventeenth century building is in the biggest park of the city, and is situated in front of the river Po.
The Town Hall
The architect Francesco Lanfranchi built it in 1659, and it’s the typical seventeenth century noble building. The prestigious “red hall” is still today the place of the town Council.
Barolo Palace
It was built by Baroncelli it at the end of the seventeenth century. It has a magnificent façade and a balcony with three