Page 231 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

V ALLE D ’ A OST A AND PIEDMONT І 229

Founded in 1932, it was t Basilica di
renovated in 2013 by the Superga
architect Cino Zucchi.
MAUTO is a pioneer in the Strada Basilica di Superga 73, about 9.5
art of exhibiting motor cars. km (6 miles) from city centre. @ 15,
Its collection of 200 vehicles 61, 68; or Sassi–Superga Rack Tramway
from Piazzale Modena. Open daily.
includes Fiats, Bugattis, Closed 8 Sep. Royal Tombs & Royal
Maseratis, Lancias and some Apartment: Tel 011 899 74 56. Open
fine foreign cars. The first Mar–Oct: Thu–Tue; Nov–Jan: Sat, Sun &
petrol-driven car made in 25 Dec–6 Jan; Feb: Sun & hols. Closed
Italy (1896) is here, as are the pub hols. ∑ basilicadisuperga.com
first Fiat (1899) and the 1929
Isotta Fraschini coupé de ville, On a hill to the east of Turin,
used to transport Gloria accessible by car and bus, stands
Swanson in the film Sunset the superb Baroque Basilica of
Boulevard. Note that many Superga, built by Juvarra in
sports cars from the 1950s Designs from 1949 for the Ferrari 166 MM 1717–31. The commission came
are right-hand drive, in from Duke Vittorio Amedeo II,
deference to the great British the building was created for in fulfilment of a vow made to
car-makers such as Aston Martin. Duke Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy the Virgin Mary in 1706 while
and is one of the very finest the French were besieging the
E MAUTO – Museo Nazionale hunting lodges, built on an duke and his army in Turin.
dell’Automobile di Torino impressive scale, reminiscent of The beautiful yellow and white
Corso Unità d’Italia 40. Tel 011 67 76 the palace of Versailles in France. façade is dominated by a large
66. Open 10am–7pm daily (to 9pm Fri The dynamic and complex portico designed like a Classical
& Sat, am only Mon, pm only Tue). & plan incorporates semicircles temple, with a 65 m- (213 ft-)
7 ∑ museoauto.it and an octagon, with the main high dome immediately beyond.
block consisting of a dome It is flanked by twin bell towers.
rising above a circular building The magnificently decorated
from which wings jut out, not interior contains numerous fine
unlike the sails of a windmill. paintings and carvings.
The mass of the central Underneath the Basilica lies
section is lightened by balus- the great mausoleum which
trading topped with urns and houses the tombs of the kings,
figures, while the dome is princes and princesses of Savoy
crowned with an 18th-century from the 18th and 19th centuries.
bronze figure of a stag. The victims of a 1949 air crash
The huge interior includes here, including the Turin football
rooms sumptuously decorated team, are commemorated on
with trompe l’oeil paintings and a plaque behind the Basilica.
frescoes on a hunting theme – Another benefit
the 18th-century Triumph of of visiting the
Diana, for instance, in the Basilica is seeing
main salone. About 40 of those the views
rooms house the interesting over Turin.
Museo d’Arte e di
An interior view of the 18th-century
Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi Ammobiliamento, a
museum specializing
r Palazzina di in 17th- and 18th-
century furniture and
Caccia Stupinigi furnishings. Many of
the ornate items on
Piazza Principe Amedeo 7, Stupinigi,
about 13 km (8 miles) from city centre. display in these
Tel 011 358 12 20. @ 4 from Porta rooms were originally
Nuova railway station to Piazza Caio kept in other former
Mario & then 41. Open Tue–Sun. & royal residences.
8 7 ∑ ordinemauriziano.it Outside there are
extensive grounds,
In 1729–30 the architect Filippo which feature an
Juvarra (1676–1736) designed elegant combina tion
a magnificent hunting lodge at of spectacular broad
Stupinigi, 9 km (5 miles) south- avenues, parkland
west of Turin. Known as the and colourful The imposing façade of the 18th-century Baroque Basilica di
Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, formal parterres. Superga designed by Filippo Juvarra

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