Page 411 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

IT AL Y  409

by Bernardo Drovetti, and antique treasures. Turin’s
Napoleon’s Consul symbol, the 167-m (547-ft) Mole
General in Egypt. Antonelliana, hosts the excellent
Wall and tomb Museo Nazionale del Cinema.
paintings, papyri,
sculptures, and a E Museo Egizio
reconstruction of Via Accademia delle Scienze 6.
the 15th-century Tel 011-561 77 76. Open Tue–Sun.
BC Rock Temple Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. & 7 =
of Ellessya are ∑ museoegizio.it
among its marvels. P Palazzo Reale
The Galleria Piazzetta Reale 1. Tel 011-436 14 55.
Sabauda, in the Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1, May 1,
same building, was Dec 25. & 8 7 - =
The Dome of San Lorenzo in Turin the House of Savoy’s ∑ ilpalazzorealeditorino.it
main painting E Museo Nazionale del Cinema
q Turin collection, and houses a stunning Via Montebello 20. Tel 011-813 85 60.
* 940,000. k Caselle 15 km (9 miles) array of works by Italian, French, Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1, Dec 25.
N. £ @ n Piazza Castello (011-53 51 Flemish, and Dutch masters. & - = ∑ museocinema.it
81). ( Sat. _ Festa di San Giovanni Other notable buildings
(Jun 24). ∑ turismotorino.org include San Lorenzo, the
former Royal Chapel designed
Home of the Fiat car company, by Guarino Guarini (1624–83),
the famous Shroud, and the which boasts an extraordinary
Juventus football team, Turin geometric dome. The Palazzo
(Torino to the Italians) is also a Reale, seat of the Savoys, holds
town of grace and charm, with a vast arms collection.
superb Baroque architecture. The Duomo (1497–8), Turin’s
Many of Turin’s monuments cathedral dedicated to St. John
were erected by the House of the Baptist, is the only example
Savoy (rulers of Piedmont and of Renaissance architecture in
Sardinia) from their capital here, the city. Inside, the Cappella
before Italian unification in 1861 della Sacra Sindone, also
made the head of the House of designed by Guarini, houses
Savoy King of Italy. the famous Turin Shroud. The imposing portico of the Baroque
The Museo Egizio – one of Inside the Palazzo Madama, Basilica di Superga
the world’s great collections of the Museo Civico d’Arte Antica
Egyptian artifacts – was amassed contains a variety of Classical Environs
In the countryside near Turin,
two superb monuments to
The Turin Shroud the House of Savoy are worth
The most famous – and most dubious – holy relic of them all is visiting. About 9 km (5 miles)
kept in Turin’s Duomo. The shroud, said to be the sheet in which southwest of Turin, Stupinigi
the body of Christ was wrapped after the Crucifixion, bears the is a magnificent hunting lodge,
imprint of a man with a side wound, and bruises, possibly from sumptuously decorated with
a crown of thorns. frescoes and paintings. It has
The shroud’s early history a vast collection of 17th- and
is unclear, but the House of 18th-century furniture.
Savoy was in possession of it The Baroque Basilica di
around 1450, and displayed it in Superga, on a hill to the east
Guarini’s chapel in the Duomo of Turin, offers good views of
from 1694. The shroud sits in a the city. Its mausoleum
silver casket inside an iron box commemorates kings of
within a marble coffer. This has
been placed inside an urn on Sardinia and other royals.
the chapel altar. A replica shroud
is on view. Tests done in 1988 P Stupinigi
claiming the shroud to be only Piazza Principe Amedeo 7.
a 12th-century relic were Tel 011-013 30 73. @ 41.
discredited by a US scientist Open Tue–Sun. & 7
in 2005. The shroud may be R Basilica di Superga
1,300–3,000 years old, pending Strada Basilica di Superga 75.
further tests. The supposed face of Christ imprinted Tel 011-899 74 56. £ Historic
on the Turin Shroud tram from Sassi. Open daily. Tombs:
& ∑ basilicadisuperga.com

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