Castle Square

Piazza Castello is the beating heart of Turin, a place where history, art, and city life harmoniously blend together. Located in the historic center of the city, this square is a crossroads of important Turin streets such as via Garibaldi, via Po, via Roma, and via Pietro Micca. Square in shape, it houses in the center the magnificent complex of Palazzo Madama and Casaforte degli Acaja, surrounded by elegant historic buildings and arcades that add a touch of majesty and symmetry to the urban landscape. The square has ancient origins, dating back to the 1st century AD, when the area housed the eastern entrance of the ancient Roman castrum of Julia Augusta Taurinorum. This Roman gate, known in the Middle Ages as Fibellona, served as the main entrance to the city and as a connection to the decumanus maximus, the current via Garibaldi. During the Lombard period, the gate was reinforced several times to resist barbarian invasions, a sign of the strategic importance of Turin since ancient times.In the 13th century, the dilapidated Roman structure was demolished to make way for a fortified residence, the Casaforte degli Acaja, which later became a real castle in the 14th century. This castle, with its corner towers, marked the beginning of an urban transformation that would lead to the creation of the current square. With the consolidation of the Savoy state and the transfer of the capital from Chambéry to Turin in 1563, Piazza Castello began to take the shape we know today, thanks to an ambitious project of redevelopment and modernization of the city.In the 17th century, under the direction of architects Carlo and Amedeo di Castellamonte, the square underwent important interventions that defined its current layout. The arcades were built on the southern side and work began on the Royal Palace, a symbol of Savoy power. The square became a place of representation, where solemn ceremonies took place such as the arrival of the Holy Shroud in Turin in 1578 and 1582, events celebrated with a solemn mass in the nearby church of San Lorenzo.In the 18th century, the architect Filippo Juvarra left an indelible mark on Piazza Castello with the design of the Palazzo Madama, intended for Maria Giovanna Battista di Savoia-Nemours. Although the original project was only partially realized, the western white stone forepart is an exquisite example of Baroque architecture. Juvarra also designed the northern building, which now houses the Royal Armory and the State Archives.Throughout the 19th century, Piazza Castello saw further developments, including the construction of the Galleria Subalpina, a richly decorated covered passage that connects the square to Piazza Carlo Alberto. During the Napoleonic occupation, some connections between Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace were demolished, but in the following period, interventions were made to restore and embellish the square, making it one of the focal points of city life.The 20th century brought new changes, including the construction of the Torre Littoria, a rationalist-style building that broke with the square’s previous architectural styles. In the 1990s, Piazza Castello was partially closed to car traffic and pedestrianized, with Luserna stone paving and the introduction of disappearing fountains that further enrich its aesthetics.