The Savoia dynastic capital
In 1280, the Savoia dynasty conquered Turin. Under its reign the city underwent one of the most significant transformations of its history. In 1563 the Savoias moved their capital here from Chambéry, and commissioned the top architects of the time. Thanks to the brilliance and creative genius of Ascanio Vitozzi, Amedeo and Carlo di Castellamonte, Guarino Guarini and, of course, Filippo Juvarra, the city became one of the greatest Baroque capitals. Turin became a city with extraordinary style, charm and elegance, and those have been its traits ever since.
Turin was a financial, industrial and trade centre: the first manufacturing businesses were opened here and the art of making chocolate, in particular, became a jewel in the crown of Torinese tradition, famous throughout Italy and worldwide.
Turin also acquired religious significance, in particular in 1578, when Duke Emanuele Filiberto brought the Holy Shroud, traditionally Christ’s winding cloth, from Chambéry and housed it here permanently.
The Savoias made Turin a dynamic cultural city. The University, founded in 1404, attracted intellects from all over Europe: Erasmus of Rotterdam, a genius of Renaissance Humanism, graduated here. Turin was also greatly loved by Montesquieu, whilst the French politician and intellectual Charles de Brosses defined it “the prettiest city in Italia and, in my opinion, in all Europe.”
