Tour of Palazzo Madama – Municipal Museum of Ancient Art.
The central building of the square is the Palazzo Madama. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when a fort was erected on the site of the old city gates. A hundred years later, the fort was enlarged, given a rectangular shape and a courtyard was built. Four corner towers and a covered gallery were added.
The castle belonged to the Acayo family (the younger branch of the Savoy dynasty) until the end of the XV century. When the Acaio family ceased to exist, the Savoy dynasty used the castle as a guest house.
For example, King Charles VIII of France stayed here during his campaign against the Kingdom of Naples. The castle has also been the site of ceremonial events during which the Shroud of Turin was on display. The castle owes its name to two notable female inhabitants who lived here at one time. At the beginning of the XVII century Maria Christina of Bourbon, France, settled here and the castle was reconstructed on her orders. Sixty years later, Maria Jeanne Savoie-Nemours, another influential woman of Turin, settled here.
In the 17th century, some parts of the fort were dismantled or hidden, including the old drawbridge. These days, the castle looks unusual. On one side in front of it there is a monument, fountains, and benches. There are also columns, a balustrade with statues and vases. On the other side of the palace two round dark brown towers on the sides of the building with loopholes at the top remind of the original purpose of the castle. Small holes where swallows nest can be seen all along the height of the towers and the facade (the townspeople nicknamed the house “swallows’ shelter”). After the castle passed
The history of the palace dates back to the 30s A.D. It was a small fortress in a place called Augusta Taurinorum. In the Middle Ages the fortress was enlarged with additions, towers were added and thus the castle for the nobility was born. For some time the palace was used for receptions, the king lived here and even housed the famous Shroud of Turin.
The palace then became one of the residences of the Savoy court. Marie-Christine of France lived in the castle for a long time. After her, other noble widows lived here.
The exterior of the Palais de la Madama combines baroque and the austerity of medieval fortresses.
The Palais de la Madama, like other residences of the Savoy Court, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Museum of Ancient Art, now housed in the Palais de la Madama, has a fine collection of works from antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Of particular interest are the displays of gemstone and ivory jewellery and ceramics collections. There are works by Antonello da Messina and Orazia Gentileschi.
Open all days except Tuesday, 24-25 December, 1 January, 1 May
