Page 227 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

TURIN І 225

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
* 910,000. n Piazza Castello/
Via Garibaldi (011 53 51 81), also at
Piazza Carlo Felice & Turin Airport.
( Sat. _ 24 Jun: Festa di San
Giovanni. ∑ turismotorino.org
Transport
k Caselle 15 km (9 miles) N.
V Porta Nuova, Piazza Carlo Felice.
Porta Susa, Piazza XVIII Dicembre.
@ Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 131.

staircase and first floor, both
The 15th-century Duomo, with the Cappella della Sacra Sindone beyond designed by Juvarra, houses the
Museo Civico d’Arte Antica. This
Baptist, is the only example of P Palazzo Madama collection contains treasures
Renaissance architecture in Piazza Castello 10. Tel 011 443 35 01. ranging from the Graeco-
Turin. The sober square bell Open 10am–6pm Wed–Mon (to 7pm Roman era to the 19th century.
tower, which pre-dates the rest Sun). Last adm: 1 hour before closing. The display includes Portrait of
of the church by 20 years, & free 1st Wed of month. = an Unknown Man by Antonello
stands in refreshing contrast ∑ palazzomadamatorino.it da Messina (15th-century) and
to Turin’s sumptuous Baroque Turin’s main square once reproductions of the Duc de
buildings; its top was designed featured a medieval castle, which Berry’s Book of Hours from around
by Filippo Juvarra in 1720. incorporated elements of the 1420. Glass, jewellery, textiles and
Inside, the Duomo is heavy with original Roman city walls. The furniture are also on display.
MILANO Aeroporto Caselle
NOVARA 15 km (9 miles) statuary and paintings. On the castle was later enlarged
VERCELLI
right side of the church is the and remodelled, and a
PIAZZA Cappella della Sacra Sindone new façade by Juvarra
DELLA
REPUBBLICA (Chapel of the Holy Shroud), was added, at the
RIVOLI AUGUSTO which is incorporated into the request of a royal widow,
VIA MILANO Palatina Teatro ALESSANDRIA Palazzo Reale (see p228). The in the 18th century. The
PIAZZA
Porta
Basilica di Superga
Romano
C O R S O RE G I N A M A R G H E R I TA
chapel is a remarkable feat,
Palazzo Madama – as it
VIA MERCANTI
ASTI
VIA S. FRANCESCO D'ASSISI VIA S. TOMMASO Lorenzo PIAZZA Palazzo Giardini C O designed by Guarino Guarini was renamed – sits in Juvarra in 1718–21
Duomo
Reale
the centre of the square
(1624–83), with an extraordinary
Reali
mesh-like cupola; the exterior
with a stately façade. The The façade of the Palazzo Madama, designed by Filippo
Armeria
San
interior, with its grand
view is equally eccentric.
Reale
Palazzo
V I A P. M I C C A Madama CASTELLO Teatro The Holy Shroud
Regio
VIA ROMA PIAZZA CARIGNANO VIA MONTEBELLO Mole The most famous – and most dubious – holy relic
VIA S. TERESA
Museo Egizio & VIA BATTISTI V I A P O Antonelliana of them all is kept in Turin’s Duomo. The Shroud,
Galleria Sabauda Palazzo said to be the winding-sheet in which the body
PIAZZA Carignano V I A G I U S E P P E V E R D I
SAN of Christ was wrapped after His crucifixion, owes
CARLO VIA LAGRANGE VIA PR INC I P E A MEDEO its fame to the fact that the Shroud bears the
VIA CARLO ALBERTO
V I A X X S E T T E M B R E VIA ROMA VIA GOBETTI VIA CAVOUR VIA SAN FRANCESCO DA PAOLA ALBERTO VIA M. VITTORIA LUNGO PO CADORNA side, and bruises from what might have been
V I A R O S S I N I R S O S A N M A U R I Z I O
imprint of a crucified man with a wound in his
PIAZZA
CARLO
V I A P O
a crown of thorns.
PIAZZA
VIA GIOLITTI
VITTORIO
The Shroud is one of the most famous medieval
VENETO
relics. Its early history is unclear, but the House of
PIAZZA
had it displayed in Guarini’s chapel from 1694.
PIAZZA
Ponte
PIAZZA
CARLO VIA GRAMSCI V I A A C C A D E M I A A L B E R T I N A CAVOUR VI A G IOLI T T I Vittorio Savoy was in possession of it around 1450, and
LAGRANGE
FELICE PIAZZA V I A S A N M A S S I M O Emanuele I
BODONI The “original” Shroud – which sits in a silver casket
Stupinigi V I A D E I M I L L E inside an iron box within a marble coffer – is not on
display, though a replica is, together with a welter of
VIA CAVOUR
Stazione C O R S O C A I R O L I scientific explanations as to the Shroud’s possible
Porta Nuova C O R S O V I T T O R I O E M A N U E L E I I VIA FRATELLI CALANDRA P o origins. In 1988, however, the myth of the Shroud
was exploded: a carbon-dating test showed that
V I A M A Z Z I N I
it dates back no further than the 12th century.
The Shroud nevertheless remains an object of
Museo dell'Automobile, Ponte
Pinacoteca Giovanni e Parco del Umberto I religious veneration.
Marella Agnelli
Valentino Detail of the mysterious 12th-century Holy Shroud
MONCALIERI
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