Itinerary - Porta Palazzo - Look
CORNERS AND EDGES
The touristy corners of the Quadrilatero, in piazza Emanuele Filiberto, border on against the edges of the market in Porta Palazzo. Depending on your viewpoint, though, you can also admire the edges of the Quadrilatero and the corners of Porta Palazzo. |
PORTA PALATINAor Porta Principalis SinistraAll houses have a door and we in Turin have one dating back to the 1st century A.C. that is made up of two towers of 16 sides! Once used for looking out from one of the extremities of the cardo massimo (a cardoon is an edible thistle in Italian, but this was simply the name of one of the main streets on the Roman map of the city), there were four passageways: two main ones for wagons and two minor ones for pedestrians, all protected by shutters which were closed from the upper floors! (foto) Via Porta Palatina |
PIAZZA PALAZZO DI CITTÀ AND PALAZZO CIVICOAnother delightful little square designed by Benedetto Alfieri in 1756, doubly enchanting in winter thanks to the luci d'artista (light installations commissioned by the city council). A few steps away from chaos, immersed in an almost magical silence, it was most probably built on the remains of the old Roman Forum and is now home to the 17th century Palazzo Civico extended by Alfieri. |
SANTUARIO DELLA CONSOLATAGuarini, Juvarra and Bertola ("Parlapà", or "ma non mi dire" - "You don't say" as Turin locals would say) all contributed to building one of the Turin's citizens' most well-loved churches. (foto) And what about the Corinthian columns in the front? Once, to thank God for having escaped from cholera, people built columns rather than lighting candles in church! The old Romanesque bell tower of the church of S. Andrea is near the Consolata. Moving to the left you'll see the plinth of one of the five angular towers of the Roman city.Piazza della Consolata |
PALAZZO BAROLOThe busts under the windows are disquieting, showing the head of a woman and the skeleton of a goat... they seem incredible for an elegant 17th century Palace, premises of the Opera Pia commissioned by the marquises Tancredi and Giulia of Barolo. It is true however that Silvio Pellico died in 1854 in this Palazzo... may Opera Pia protect us!Via delle Orfane, 7 BASILICA DEL CORPUS DOMINIThis little church looking timidly onto a small square is very dear to the people of Turin, although it is never too crowded despite the miracle that took place back in 1453.Today the miracle is the pleasure of finding such quiet in spite of the frenzy of the nearby via Garibaldi.Via Palazzo di Città, 20 |
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CHIESA DI SAN DOMENICOHidden among the streets of the Quadrilatero, this church surprises with its simple beauty. It doesn't "put on airs" even though its columns carry the coats of arms of some of Turin's most famous families. It is a 15th century church restored in the early 20th century. Inside you can see find a painting by Guercino.Via San Domenico corner via Milano |
MILITARY QUARTERS AND RESISTANCE MUSEUMIt is a small neighborhood designed by Juvarra in 1716 to defend the city and it is characterized by its porticos built in brick. Today the Museum celebrates the memory of the partisans and their bravery in fighting for the liberation of Turin in the Second World War.Corso Valdocco,4a |
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JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU'S HOUSEThe little square lined with trees (piazza IV Marzo) is in the medieval area of the city: numerous streets begin here. One of these, via Porta Palatina,leads to the church of the Spirito Santo, where Jean-Jacques Rousseau was converted to Catholicism; the philosopher had lived in via Porta Palatina, 11 |
CASA BROGLIAA typical 15th Century civil residence, maybe also built as a defense...what dangerous times!!! On the corner of the same name orders and city proclamations were posted. It was also called "cantone delle grida" - crier's corner - since the town crier read the notices aloud for the benefit of the many illiterate citizens.Via Porta Palatina corner via Tasso |
PALAZZO D'ESTEIt is at No. 9, in an internal part of via Egidi. It is believed that Torquato Tasso lived here during his stay in Turin in 1578. According to tradition, in 1570 Emanuele Filiberto donated this palazzo to the marquis Filippo d'Este, who had married his legitimate daughter.As a distant relative of the Estes, Tasso would have been an honoured guest of the marquis Filippo... The story is more fascinating than "Beautiful"!!Via Egidi 9 |
PALAZZO PAESANA DI SALUZZOThis patrician Palazzo, at No. 1 via Consolata, was designed by Plantery at the beginning of the 18th Century because of the wish of Count Baldassarre Paesana of Saluzzo. His impoverished heirs were forced to rent it out in order to retrieve the enormous costs of its construction! Its vast courtyard is one of the most beautiful in Turin.Via della Consolata, 1 bis |
CASA DEL SENATOAs evidenced by a "trompe l'oeil" painted on one of the walls, it is said to have been one of the residences of Turin's dukes during - can you imagine - the Longobard domination! It has four rather "dated" floors, three of which date back to the 15th century and the fourth to the 16th century. It was therefore a "tall"Palazzo in comparison to the typical buildings of the time: they didn't usually exceed two floors in height.Largo IV Marzo, 15 |
PINGONE HOUSEThis was residence of the legendary "Monssù Pingon",historian and antiquarian. Even if rather shabby in appearance, it is worth a visit to try and catch a glimpse of the swallow tailed merlons between one window and another.Via Egidi corner via della Basilica |
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