SQUARES
Piazza San Carlo is one of the most important squares in the historic center of Turin.
At its center stands the monument to Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont.
It is nicknamed “the city’s drawing room” by the locals, as the cafés under the arcades were the hub of Piedmont’s political life in the past.
The historic cafés are “Caffè San Carlo” and “Caffè Torino,” known for the small brass bull, symbol of the Piedmontese capital, embedded in the pavement in front of the entrance. A Turin tradition says that stepping on its “attributes” brings good luck.
A unique feature of the square is the presence of the two “twin” churches on the southern side.
Piazza Palazzo di Città – Piazzetta delle erbe
Piazza Palazzo di Città is a small square in Turin, located in the central part of the ancient Roman city.
Also known as the ancient “Piazza delle Erbe” due to the commercial activities that took place there, it hosts the Palazzo Civico, home to the local administration.
It is surrounded by an elegant arcade.
Palazzo Carignano
Designed by architect Guarino Guarini, Palazzo Carignano is part of the Savoy residences, a Unesco heritage. It’s one of the most beautiful examples of Italian Baroque, thanks above all to the sinuous and curvilinear shape of the terracotta façade and the atrium with double staircases. Initially the official residence of the Princes of Carignano and then the seat of the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament, today the building houses the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento.
Address: Via Accademia delle Scienze, 5
Telephone: 0115641733
Piazza Castello
The vibrant heart of Turin and a vital crossroads of the four main thoroughfares of the historic center, Piazza Castello is the ideal starting point for discovering the city. It hosts some of the main attractions, such as the Royal Palace, residence of the House of Savoy, and the Teatro Regio, a cornerstone of Turin’s cultural life. The square is an open-air stage, with its Baroque architecture and wide pedestrian spaces where locals and tourists meet and stroll amidst history and beauty.
