Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

228 І NOR THWEST IT AL Y

Turin: Symbols of the City

Turin’s architecture mirrors the city’s transition from monarchic
power to industrial power. Witness the ostentation of the
Baroque apartments of the Savoy family in Palazzo Reale,
and contrast them with the futuristic Mole Antonelliana, a tall
structure that heralded the dawn of the modern industrial
age. Much of Turin’s history in the 20th century has been
dominated by the motor car: Fiat is synonymous with Turin.
For the curious, the city’s extensive motor museum is worth
a visit, since it maps out the history of Italian car design.

P Mole Antonelliana/Museo tallest brick building – provides
del Cinema panoramic views from its lift
Via Montebello 20. Tel 011 813 85 60/ and houses the National
61. Panoramic lift: Open 9am–8pm Cinema Museum.
Wed–Mon (to 11pm Sat). & Museo
del Cinema: Open 9am–8pm Wed– P Palazzo Reale/Polo Reale
Mon (to 11pm Sat) (last adm: 1 hr before Piazzetta Reale. Tel 011 436 14 55. The 19th-century tower, Mole
closing). & 7 ∑ museocinema.it Open 8:30am–7:30pm Tue–Sun (last Antonelliana, dominating Turin
This building is the Turin equiva­ adm: 6:20pm). & (free 1st Sun of
lent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris: an month). 8 7 ∑ poloreale. E Armeria Reale/Polo Reale
unmissably tall landmark beniculturali.it Piazetta Reale. Tel 011 436 14 55.
that is a signature for This palace was the Open 9am–6:30pm Tue–Sun
the city. It looks like seat of the Savoy (last adm: 30 mins before closing).
a glorified lightning royal family from Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. & 7
conductor: indeed, 1660 until the uni­ ∑ poloreale-beniculturali.it
in 1953 an electric fication of Italy in One wing of the Palazzo Reale,
storm struck down 1861. Behind the on the northern side of the
the top 47 m (155 ft), austere façade, de ­ main square, provides the
which was later signed by Amedeo di splendid setting for one of the
replaced. The 167­m The interior of San Castellamonte, lie most extensive and breath­
(550­ft) Mole, by Lorenzo’s dome richly decorated state taking collections of arms and
Alessandro Antonelli apartments; the ceilings armoury in the world.
(1798–1888), was meant to be a were painted by Morello, Miel Opened to the public in
synagogue. Upon completion and Seyter in the 17th century. 1832, the armoury originally
in 1889, the city left it without a Splendid furnishings, tapestries belonged to the House of
proper use for years. Eventually, and orna ments date from the Savoy. The fine rooms, such as
it housed the Risorgi mento 17th to the 19th centuries; they the splendid Galleria Beaumont,
museum. The Mole (“massive include the elaborate Chinese designed by Juvarra in 1733,
structure”) – for a time Europe’s Cabinet, the Alcove Room, the hold treasures ranging from
lavishly deco rated Roman and Etruscan times to
Throne Room, and the 1800s. The collec tion has
the innovative Scala magnificent medieval and
delle Forbici, or Renaissance items from some
Scissor Stairs, of the world’s greatest
created by Juvarra armourers and gunsmiths,
in 1720. Behind the including a pistol that belonged
palace are ex tensive to Emperor Charles V. One
gardens designed section is devoted largely to
by André le Nôtre. Oriental arms and armour.
To the left of the The Royal Library contains
main entrance is a collection of drawings,
San Lorenzo. This including a self­portrait by
fine Baroque church, Leonardo da Vinci on view
begun in 1634, is by for special exhibitions only.
architect Guarino
Guarini, its ornate Environs
interior boasting About 5 km (3 miles) out of
another of his the city centre is the vast
A lavishly decorated gallery in the 17th-century Palazzo extraordinary, MAUTO – Museo Nazionale
Reale, a royal residence until unification geometric domes. dell’Auto mobile di Torino.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp565–9 and pp584–90

228-229_EW_Italy.indd 228 4/4/17 5:34 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.3)
Date 13th June 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm