Royal Palace of Turin

The Royal Palace of Turin (italiano. Palazzo Reale di Torino) is a historic palace of the House of Savoy in the city of Turin in northern Italy. It was originally built in the 16th century and was later modernized by Christine Marie of France (1606–63) in the 17th century, with subsequent additions designed by the Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra. The palace also includes the Palazzo Chiablese and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, which was built to house the famous Shroud of Turin. In 1946, the building became property of the state and was turned into a museum. It was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1997, along with 13 other residences of the House of Savoy.

History

The construction of the Royal Palace was ordered by the Regent Maria Cristina, who wanted a new residence for the Court in 1645, when the Regent’s son was about to come back from the Civil War. The site chosen was where the Bishop's palace had once stood. It offered an open and sunny position and the advantage of being close to the other buildings, which had been the meeting place of the Court.

Its predecessor, the Bishop's palace, which was built in the middle of the new capital of Savoy, Turin, during the reign of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy (1528–1580). It was on the site of the current Royal Palace of Turin.

The Duke was able to monitor the two entrances of the city from the Bishop's palace, namely the Palatine and Pretoria gates. The Bishop's palace in Turin was captured by the French in 1536 and served as a residence of the French Viceroys of Savoy, who were appointed by Francis I of France. Opposite the Bishop's palace was the Palazzo Vecchio or the Palazzo di San Giovanni. These two buildings were later replaced by the grander Ducal PalaceШаблон:Dn. The old Bishop's Palace became the seat of power and it was greatly expanded by Emmanuel Philibert to house his ever growing collection of art, animals, marbles and furniture. Emmanuel Philibert died in Turin in August 1580 and the Savoyard throne was handed down to his son, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy (1562–1630). In celebration of the joint marriages of his daughters Princess Margaret and Princess Isabella in 1608, Charles Emmanuel I commissioned the construction of a ring of porches which was topped off by an open gallery. His son, the future Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy (1587–1637) entered into a very prestigious marriage when he married the French Princess Christine Marie of France. Their marriage took place in Paris at the Louvre in 1619.

Victor Amadeus I succeeded to the Duchy of Savoy in 1630. He had spent his youth in Madrid at the court of his grandfather Philip II of Spain. His wife set the tone for Victor Amadeus I's reign - Christine Marie had the court moved from the ducal palace in Turin to the Castello del Valentino, which, at that time, was on the outskirts of the small capital. Many of Victor Amadeus I and Christine Marie's children were born at Valentino, including Francis Hyacinth, Duke of Savoy and his successor Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy. Christine Marie was the regent of Savoy after the death of her husband in 1637; she was the regent of her two sons who succeeded as Duke of Savoy.

During reign of Victor Amadeus II, the Daniel gallery was created and named after Daniel Seiter, who painted the lavish murals seen in the gallery. Victor Amadeus II also had a collection of summer apartments built to look onto the court and a winter apartment overlooking the gardens. His wife was the niece of Louis XIV, born Anne Marie d'Orléans. Louis XV's mother and aunt were born in the palace in 1685 and 1688 respectively.

The Chapel of the Holy Shroud, the current resting place of the Shroud of Turin, was added to the structure in 1668-1694.

The Dukes of Savoy became the Kings of Sicily in 1713, but they was swapped with the Kingdom of Sardinia, which ruled from 1720 after the Treaty of The Hague. Anne Marie d'Orléans died at the Palace in 1728.

Victor Amadeus III married Maria Antonietta of Spain, but they preferred to use the Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi in the country. The Neoclassical style was introduced to the palace in the reign of Charles Emmanuel III. The palace was overshadowed by the Stupinigi building later on, when Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia married Maria Adelaide of Austria. The palace once again saw some life with the redecoration of some rooms.

In 1946, the palace was claimed by the Italian Republic and turned into a "Museum of the Life and Works of the House of Savoy". Its rooms are decorated with rich tapestries and a collection of Chinese and Japanese vases. The Royal Armory houses an extensive array of arms, including examples from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The palace houses the Scala delle Forbici, a staircase by Filippo Juvarra. The Chapel of the Holy Shroud, with its spiral dome, was built in the west wing of the palace, joining the apse of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, to house the famous Shroud of Turin, which belonged to the family from 1453 until 1946. The royal gates of the palace have a golden Medusa symbol embossed onto them to fend off intruders.

References and notes

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

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Italia.it
16 July 2013
A visit to Turin and its hinterland, in discovery of the splendid Savoy Residences. is truly an immersion into these historic centers of power.
Italia.it
20 December 2011
This outstanding complex of buildings radiates out into the surrounding countryside from the Royal Palace in the 'Command Area' of Turin to include many country residences and hunting lodges.
BITEG
11 April 2012
A refined "Royal Snack" in th Royal Palace, the elegant residence of the king of Italy, where you'll taste some typical dishes and wines
Sagre nei Borghi
29 October 2014
Se credete davvero che una mela al giorno garantisca salute e felicità, la manifestazione della Mela e dintorni di Caprie farà al caso vostro. Degustate dunque il vostro elisir di giovinezza.
Andrea Chittaro
23 April 2013
La mostra del grande Robert Capa merita decisamente. Le sue foto sono sempre meravigliose, struggenti ed estremamente emozionanti e dirette. Consiglio!
Italia.it
19 February 2014
Fulcro della corte e del potere politico, Palazzo Reale e gli edifici che lo circondano costituivano il centro di comando e il principale luogo di rappresentanza della magnificenza sabauda.
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