All you need to know about the Royal Museums of Turin: prices, opening hours, visits and main things to see in the historic residence of the Savoys.
Among the most beautiful things to see inTurini stand outRoyal Museums, a complex of 55,000 square meters made up of ancient residences and exhibition areas that retrace an important part of the history ofItalyand represent a splendid testimony of the Baroque period.
The complex of the Royal Museums: guide to visits
The Royal Museums are among the largest museum complexes inEuropeand are located in the beating heart of the Piedmontese capital, Turin. Through 3 kilometers of promenade, 7 hectares of garden and 30 thousand square meters of artistic exhibitions, they allow you to embark on a historical, naturalistic and cultural journey of great value.
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The foundation date of the Royal Museums dates back to 1563 when Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia moved the capital of the duchy from Chambery to Turin. In 1600, starting from the Royal Palace, the city began to expand following an orthogonal scheme until it assumed the shape we see today. The Savoys lived in the Royal Palace until 1946, when it then passed into the hands of the State.
The following are part of the Royal Museums complex:
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Royal Palace
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Royal Armory
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Royal Library
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Royal Gardens
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archaeological Museum
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Savoy Gallery
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Chapel of the Shroud
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Palazzo Chiablese
What to see in the Royal Museums of Turin
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace, the main building of the Royal Museums as well as the first that catches the eye when you arrive in Piazza Castello, was the base of the Savoy family and still today preserves the original furnishings and works of art of the past. Baroque, neoclassical and rococo styles meet in the majestic halls of the Palace, balancing each other perfectly. Behind the imposing and beautiful facade are pieces made by the likes of Juvarra and Alfieri.
The most beautiful rooms, absolutely to be visited, are: the Sala del Medagliere and the Galleria del Beaumont which houses the Royal Armory. The latter contains a rich collection of weapons and armor that spans a period from prehistory to the nineteenth century.
Royal Armory
The Royal Armory is a huge room, fully decorated with important works of art, which houses more than 5,000 historical pieces from different historical periods. The highlight is the Royal Medagliere, which houses the coin collection of the former monarch Carlo Alberto. Among the weapons present there are also numerous pieces from the private collections of various Kings of Italy and the sword of San Maurizio, a real relic.
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Royal Library
Inside Palazzo Reale there is a Scala Alfieriana which connects the Armory to the Royal Library, founded by Carlo Alberto in 1831. It was the ancient court library and contains volumes purchased by collectors from all over Europe. Inside there are also a series of drawings dating back to the period between the 15th and 18th centuries, such as the one depicting Leonardo da Vinci's Nucleus, or his self-portrait, dating back to the very distant 1516.
Royal Gardens
The Royal Gardens are a green area that also extends outside the museum complex, much loved by the Turinese. They were built by Duparc starting from one of the bastions and delimit the Roman entrance to the city of the Mole.
archaeological Museum
Moving slightly to the right of the Royal Palace is the Archaeological Museum overlooking the ancient Roman theatre. Inside there are testimonies from various historical periods including the precious Treasure of Marengo, an incredible set of silver objects from the Roman age, dating from between the 3rd and 5th centuries.
Savoy Gallery
The Galleria Sabauda was a bit like the private artistic area of the Savoys. It houses works from the major artists of the European schools and is located in the new part of the museum complex. Inside you can admire paintings by classical artists such as Duccio or Botticelli but also works of Flemish and Dutch art.
Chapel of the Shroud
The Chapel of the Shroud is located inside the Cathedral of Turin and was built by Guarini around 1668 even if in 1997 it was partially destroyed by fire. The building was only reopened to the public in 2008, after lengthy restoration operations. Inside is the Holy Shroud, which is periodically exposed to the public.
Palazzo Chiablese
Palazzo Chiablese hosts temporary exhibitions. Depending on the period, inside you can admire different arts, exhibitions and works. The building dates back to 1600 but was redesigned in 1753 and, of this re-design, the staircase leading to the noble floor and thefurnishings, which have remained the original ones of the past.
Note Well! The visit to Palazzo Chiablese is not included in the general visit of the complex.
Prices, timetables and how to get to the Royal Museums of Turin
The Royal Museums of Turin are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.00 to 19.00, with the last admission for visits at 18.00.
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The standard ticket includes entry to the dynastic apartment on the first floor with the Royal Armory, the Savoy Gallery, the Chapel of the Shroud and the Museum of Antiquities, and costs 15 euros. The visit to all the museums described above is free with the Torino Card.
Il complesso dei Musei Reali è facilmente raggiungibile con i mezzi pubblici (metropolitana e pullman 4, 13, 56, 55, 15 o 13), o a piedi dalle due stazioni principali della città: Porta Susa e Porta Nuova.
