Palazzo
Carignano

The baroque heart of the
Italian Risorgimento

In the historic center of Turin, a few steps from Piazza Castello, stands one of the symbols of the city: Palazzo Carignano, a masterpiece of Piedmontese Baroque and a key place in the history of Italy.

Dettaglio in controprospettiva della facciata barocca in mattoni di Palazzo Carignano, sede del Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano, Torino.
Palazzo Carignano, baroque facade taken from below — home of the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, Turin.

Walking along via Accademia delle Scienze, you find yourself in front of an undulating red brick facade, unique in its kind.

It is the unmistakable imprint of Guarino Guarini, the architect who in 1679 created this extraordinary building, inspired by Bernini's designs for the Louvre Palace.

You are not just standing in front of an architectural masterpiece, but inside a living place of our history, commissioned by Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy-Carignano in the seventeenth century to assert the prestige of his dynasty.

Qui sono nati Carlo Alberto e Vittorio Emanuele II, primo re d’Italia, e tra queste mura si è scritta una parte del destino del paese.

Palazzo Carignano 03 Interno Museo Nazionale Risorgimento Italiano

In 1848, the ballroom was transformed into the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament, which remained operational until 1860, the year in which it reached its maximum capacity. And it is precisely in the courtyard of Palazzo Carignano, where a temporary Chamber hall was set up, that the Unification of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861.

Facciata di Palazzo Carignano su Piazza Carignano, sede del Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano, Torino.
Palazzo Carignano seen from Piazza Carignano, home of the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento — Turin.

Since 1938, the main floor of Palazzo Carignano has been home to the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, the only museum of its kind to be recognized as being of "national interest" due to the significance of its collections.

Dipinto Battaglia Di Goito Bauduc Museo Nazionale Risorgimento Italiano

By visiting it, you will pass through 30 rooms full of original documents, works of art and testimonies that tell the story of the events and protagonists of the Risorgimento, the Unification of Italy and the processes of European nationality.

Parlamento Subalpino Interno 01 1080p Museo Nazionale Risorgimento Italiano

But the most exciting heart of the visit remains intact: first the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament, declared a national monument and the only parliamentary chamber of 1848 still original in Europe, and then the evocative Hall of the Italian Chamber, with four large canvases that celebrate the decisive battles of the Risorgimento.

Palazzo Carignano 04 Interno Cortile Ratio 3 4 Museo Nazionale Risorgimento Italiano

On the ground floor, instead, the elegant Apartments of the Princes of Carignano await you, with gilded boiseries and mythological frescoes. Palazzo Carignano in Turin is not just a palace, but an invitation to enter history and rediscover the roots of who we are.

FAQ

Where is Palazzo Carignano located?

Palazzo Carignano si trova nel centro storico di Torino, puoi accedervi da piazza Carignano o da piazza Carlo Alberto, a pochi passi da Piazza Castello. È facilmente raggiungibile a piedi, in bici o con i mezzi pubblici. La stazione metro più vicina è Porta Nuova.

What can I see at Palazzo Carignano?

Palazzo Carignano houses two distinct but closely related realities: on the main floor is the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, with 30 exhibition rooms, the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament and the Hall of the Italian Chamber; on the ground floor are the Apartments of the Princes of Carignano, part of the Savoy Royal Residences, which can be visited via a separate entrance.

For information on these spaces, visit the official website of the Savoy Royal Residences.

How can I visit Palazzo Carignano?

You can access Palazzo Carignano by purchasing a ticket for the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, which includes entry to the museum section of the palace. Access to the Apartments of the Princes, on the other hand, follows different procedures.