Highlights
Did you know?
Piazza Castello is not only the symbolic centre of Turin, but literally its geographic point zero: all the city's distances are measured starting from here.
The square was designed in its current form in the sixteenth century as part of the urban plan willed by the House of Savoy to transform Turin into a capital worthy of a great European court.
According to tradition, Ascanio Vittozzi was the first architect to give the square a unified layout around 1584, creating the basis for what would become one of the most successful examples of Baroque urban planning in Europe.
Palazzo Madama: the castle in the heart of the square
Palazzo Madama dominates the geometric centre of Piazza Castello with a unique scenographic presence.
Its layered history tells of millennia of transformations: from the ancient Roman gate of the city to the medieval towers of the Savoy castle, all the way to the splendid Baroque facade created by Filippo Juvarra between 1718 and 1721, considered one of the absolute masterpieces of Piedmontese architecture.
The building owes its name to the two queen mothers who lived there: Christine of France and Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours.
Palazzo Reale and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud
On the northern side of Piazza Castello, beyond the monumental gate guarded by the statues of the Dioscuri, you access the complex of Palazzo Reale, the official residence of the House of Savoy from 1646 until the Unification of Italy.
The royal apartments, richly decorated with frescoes, tapestries and period furniture, house one of the most precious collections of historic furnishings in Italy.
The palace is part of the UNESCO Savoyard Residences site, recognised in 1997 as a heritage of mankind.
The porticoes, theatres and life of the square
The porticoes of Piazza Castello are not mere architectural elements: they are the symbol of the Turin lifestyle, a covered space where you can stroll, shop and stop for a coffee regardless of the weather.
Under these porticoes are some of the most important cultural venues in the city, starting with the Teatro Regio, the temple of Turin opera, whose facade looks directly onto the square.
The Teatro Regio, inaugurated in 1740 and rebuilt after a fire in 1973, hosts every year opera and ballet seasons of international level.
At the centre rises Palazzo Madama, the ancient medieval castle transformed in the 18th century by Filippo Juvarra. On the north side opens the entrance to the Palazzo Reale complex, former official Savoy residence. The square is also the convergence point of the city's main historic arteries: Via Po, Via Roma and Via Pietro Micca all start or end here.
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Palazzo Madama: the castle in the heart of the square
Palazzo Madama dominates the geometric centre of Piazza Castello with a unique scenographic presence. Its layered history recounts millennia of transformations: from the city's ancient Roman gate to the medieval towers of the Savoy castle, all the way to the splendid baroque façade by Filippo Juvarra built between 1718 and 1721, considered one of the absolute masterpieces of Piedmontese architecture. The building takes its name from the two queen mothers who lived there: Cristina di Francia and Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours.
Today Palazzo Madama hosts the Civic Museum of Ancient Art, with collections ranging from medieval art to the Renaissance, from ceramics to historic furnishings, including masterpieces such as the famous Portrait of a Man by Antonello da Messina. The building's interior is equally spectacular: Juvarra's staircase, with its geometric elegance, is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Palazzo Reale and the Cappella della Sindone
On the northern side of Piazza Castello, beyond the monumental gate watched over by statues of the Dioscuri, lies the entrance to the Palazzo Reale complex, official Savoy residence from 1646 until Italian Unification. The Royal Apartments, richly decorated with frescoes, tapestries and period furniture, hold one of Italy's most precious historic furnishings collections. The palace is part of the UNESCO Savoy Residences site, recognised in 1997 as a World Heritage Site.
Adjacent to the palace stands the Cappella della Santa Sindone, designed by the visionary genius of Guarino Guarini between 1668 and 1694. The radial dome, built with a revolutionary structural technique, is one of the supreme examples of world baroque architecture. The chapel, which housed the Holy Shroud before it was moved to the Duomo, is now visitable after the restoration following the 1997 fire.
The arcades, theatres and the square's life
The arcades of Piazza Castello are not simple architectural elements: they are the symbol of the Turin lifestyle, a covered space where you can walk, shop and stop for a coffee whatever the weather. Beneath these arcades stand some of the city's most important cultural venues, starting with the Teatro Regio, the temple of Turin opera, whose façade looks directly onto the square. The Teatro Regio, inaugurated in 1740 and rebuilt after a fire in 1973, hosts international opera and ballet seasons every year.
Also under the arcades is the Teatro Gobetti, home of Teatro Stabile di Torino prose productions, and the elegant windows of historic shops and bookstores open up. The square is also the ideal starting point for exploring the historic centre: Via Po leads toward Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the Po, Via Roma crosses the city's commercial heart to Piazza San Carlo, while Via Pietro Micca heads toward Piazza Solferino.
Did you know? Turin's point zero
Piazza Castello is not only the symbolic centre of Turin but literally its geographic point zero: all the city's distances are measured from here. The square was designed in its present form in the 16th century as part of the master plan promoted by the Savoys to transform Turin into a capital worthy of a great European court. According to tradition, Ascanio Vittozzi was the first architect to give the square a unified layout around 1584, creating the foundations for what would become one of Europe's most successful examples of baroque town planning.
Another surprising fact: at over 39,000 square metres, Piazza Castello is one of Europe's largest arcade-enclosed squares. Every year this extraordinary space becomes the stage for nationally and internationally renowned events.