Royal Palace of Turin — Attraction in Turin

THE place to visit if you are in Turin ! Indeed, it is the first and most important of the royal residences of the Maison de Savoie until 1865, spectacular heart of power and life of the court. . The palace, as it appears today, was built on the initiative of Marie-Christine de France in 1646, because it had been very damaged by the city's siege in 1640. The work rehabilitated a first structure of 1559, wanted by Emmanuel-Philibert at the time when he transfered the capital of the Duchy of Savoie de Chambéry in Turin. This palace was the most important royal residence until 1865, the year when Victor-Emmanuel II moved the capital of the kingdom of Italy temporarily in Florence, then definitively in Rome. The interior decor illustrates the evolution of the taste of the family of Savoy from the 15th to the 19th century. From the 17th century in fact, the custom wanted the palace to be refreshed on the occasion of each royal marriage. Frescoes in trompe-l'oeil, gilding (masterful work of Piedmontese craftsmen), painted ceilings, a collection of clocks, the throne room, of course, and a precious "Chinese cabinet" designed by Filippo Juvarra are the centerpieces of the palace. Also essential, the Caffè Reale is a deliciously baroque tea room, in unison with the whole palace, where it is essential to stop to sip a bicerin or hot chocolate as if you were still in the court. The Palazzo Reale adjoins the chapel of the Holy Suaire, majestic setting designed for the "treasure" brought back from Chambéry during the transfer of capital. The works lasted twenty-two years, from 1668 to 1690. The precious relic will be installed there in 1694. The chapel underwent a fire twenty-five years ago, in 1997. The chapel was restored and found its original splendor and the Holy Suaire is today protected by a whole device to shelter it from a fire or any damage occasions. Behind the Palazzo Reale, the Giardini Reali occupy a huge area of ​​10 hectares. They were made on ancient fortifications. They were designed by André Le Nôtre, the famous architect of the Versailles gardens. Rich of statues, flowerbeds and fountains, you can go there freely at any time of the day, before and after the visits, to take a break ... The royal gardens are divided into several parts (lower and upper gardens), and the upper is made up of several gardens including the spectacular garden of the arts, with the fountain of the Nereids and the Tritons, the garden of the Duc or...

This museum was the first one I visited during my trip to Turin. First, because it immediately stands out when you arrive in the city center. You see a beautiful, typically Italian façade and entrances worthy of the great museums.

The Royal Palace contains splendid rooms that I would date to the 18th century. Rooms that showcase a bygone grandeur, full of gilding, grand chandeliers, and furniture that exudes classic good taste. In my view, there is nobility in loving things that shine. The style of the Royal Palace is, of course, familiar to us Europeans, but familiarity does not diminish beauty and harmony.

Outside, the very classical garden adds a touch of order and serenity. Nature and space seem to be mastered to extract their full essence. A place that would seem ideal for a romantic rendezvous.

The Museum of Antiquities, cleverly placed in the basement, displays some very interesting pieces. A Roman-era stele caught my attention. A stele like only that civilization could make—with strength and sometimes grace. Overall, you can glimpse the daily life and imagination of ancient peoples. But what struck me the most was a marble bust of a woman I believe to be an oracle. She wears a cloth covering her hair, has a serious, magnetic gaze and expression, and an inscription carved into her forehead. I believe the inscription was in Ancient Greek or another lost language. I think I found it again online. It was probably σοφία, which means Sophia, or wisdom. I was thus able to admire a woman bearing wisdom from the depths of time. Like a magic formula, the inscription probably meant that her thoughts were wise.

I left the museum with the conviction that I had absorbed a part of the Italian soul and immersed myself, for the span of a morning, in its culture. Turin truly possesses a powerful spirit, and the Royal Museums...

While the Royal Palace is amazing, particularly the armory, this museum was the most challenging one for wheelchair accessibility in Turin. We visited 6 other museums in the city and never had any issues until this one. In fact I think Turin is incredibly accessible in general and the other museums went out of their way to make our visits comfortable.

Stark contrast at the Royal Palace: zero people were helpful, no map was provided at the ticket counter and we ended up in the wrong elevator and got yelled at (it was a service and not public elevator). No signage from the entrance to show an accessible entrance and no one to ask. It was very frustrating after our very positive experiences at the other museums.

We eventually found the main 2 public elevators but the place is a maze and without a map quite challenging to navigate. Even exiting the museum was challenging - someone had to move a hidden (and super steep) ramp into place and we had to traverse a gravel garden to exit.

Note that most of the glass doors cannot be opened by the person in the wheelchair - you MUST have assistance and since there is never anyone around I wouldn't dare visit without a companion who can open the doors.

I would recommend planning on a lot of extra time and patience if you want to visit in a wheelchair. And know that other museums in the city are MUCH more accessible, such as: Egyptian, Cinema, Palazzo Madama, Accorsi –...