The Teatro Carlo Felice is the principal opera house of Genoa , Italy , used for performances of opera , ballet , orchestral music , and recitals . It is located on the side of Piazza De Ferrari .
104-477: The hall is named for King Carlo Felice , and dates from 24 December 1824, when the Most Excellent Department of Theatres was established. On 31 January 1825, local architect Carlo Barabino submitted his design for the opera house which was to be built on the site of the church of San Domenico. The Dominican friars were moved elsewhere without delay or ceremony, and the first stone of the new building
208-482: A backstage fire which destroyed all scenery and wooden fittings, but did not reach the main auditorium. Additional damage was caused by looters who stripped the back of the theatre of every possible scrap of metal they could find. Finally, an air raid in September 1944 caused the destruction of the front of the theatre leaving virtually only the outside walls and the corridors behind the tiers of boxes standing. What had been
312-572: A centre of anti-fascist movements during the Ventennio fascista including the Italian resistance movement , Turin became a major European crossroad for industry, commerce and trade, and is part of the industrial triangle along with Milan and Genoa . It is ranked third in Italy, after Milan and Rome , for economic strength. As of 2018, the city has been ranked by GaWC as a Gamma-level global city . Turin
416-568: A collateral line of the House of Savoy. After the fall of Napoleon and the return of Victor Emmanuel to Turin on 20 May 1814, Charles Felix joined him for a brief period before returning to Sardinia the following year with his wife. He formally retained the role of Viceroy until 1821, although he returned to the court in Turin after a short period. Following revolts in Cadiz in 1820, King Ferdinand VII of Spain
520-658: A concert society founded in Genoa in 1912. Charles Felix of Sardinia Charles Felix ( Italian : Carlo Felice Giuseppe Maria ; 6 April 1765 – 27 April 1831) was the King of Sardinia and ruler of the Savoyard states from 12 March 1821 until his death in 1831. He was the last male-line member of the House of Savoy that started with Victor Amadeus I , and caused the line of Victor Amadeus I's younger brother Thomas Francis to seize
624-577: A personal diary, which is an important source for events and his conflicts with the court in Savoy. When war broke out with France, Charles Felix did not distinguish himself as a soldier, despite having received a military education. In 1792, after the French occupation of the Duchy of Savoy and the county of Nice, he followed the troops to Saluzzo and in 1793, he accompanied his father, Victor Amadeus III, who had directed
728-667: A project to systematise the road network. On 7 March 1807, in the Cappella Palatina of the Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo , Charles Felix married by proxy Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily (17 January 1779 - 11 March 1849), daughter of Ferdinand IV King of Naples and Sicily and Maria Carolina of Austria . The marriage, which had originally been opposed by Charles Felix, had been arranged for dynastic reasons. Neither Charles Emmanuel nor Victor Emmanuel had male children (the son of
832-430: A shell fired by a British warship hit the roof, leaving a large hole open to the sky and destroying the ceiling of the auditorium which had been a unique example of 19th-century rococo extravagance, its main feature being a wide circle of angels, cherubs and other winged creatures in brightly painted high relief. Further damage was sustained during the aerial bombing of Genoa . On 5 August 1943 incendiary bombs started
936-400: A symbol of the carboneria. The young men offered resistance and were arrested, provoking a large brawl. The next day, all the students and many of their teachers protested, calling for the release of the youths and, when this was refused, they blockaded themselves in the university and the government was forced to call in the army. Although nobody was killed, the wounded were very numerous and
1040-590: Is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy . It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin , and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is mainly on the western bank of the Po River , below its Susa Valley , and is surrounded by the western Alpine arch and Superga hill. The population of the city proper is 847,622 (30 June 2024), while
1144-520: Is also home to much of the Italian automotive industry , hosting the headquarters of Fiat , Lancia , and Alfa Romeo . The city has a rich culture and history, and it is known for its numerous art galleries , restaurants, churches, palaces, opera houses , piazzas , parks, gardens, theatres, libraries, museums and other venues. Turin is well known for its Baroque , Rococo , Neoclassical , and Art Nouveau architecture. Many of Turin's public squares , castles, gardens, and elegant palazzi , such as
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#17328559511581248-496: Is an example of contemporary architecture, being a 300 m-long (980 ft) and 19 m-high (62 ft) glass and steel structure. Porta Susa is currently the international central station of the city (high speed trains to Paris) and it is becoming the central hub of railway transportation of the city, being the station in which local trains (so-called Ferrovie Metropolitane ), national trains and high-speed national and international trains converge. Close to Via Cernaia stands
1352-567: Is another example of Baroque square with arcades. Another main street of downtown is Via Pietro Micca , which starts in Piazza Castello and ends in the large Piazza Solferino . The street continues in Via Cernaia up to Piazza XVIII Dicembre , which features the former Porta Susa passengers building, relocated in 2012 a little more southward. The new and larger passengers building is situated between Corso Bolzano and Corso Inghilterra and
1456-786: Is depicted on the Italian 2-cent coin. Just behind Piazza Castello stands the Turin Cathedral , dedicated to Saint John the Baptist , which is the major church of the city. It was built during 1491–1498 and is adjacent to an earlier bell tower (1470). Annexed to the cathedral is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud , the current resting place of the Shroud of Turin . The chapel was added to the structure in 1668–1694, designed by Guarini . The Basilica of Corpus Domini
1560-497: Is often regarded as the pinnacle of Art Nouveau design, and the city hosted the same event in 1911 . By this time, Turin had grown to 430,000 inhabitants. After World War I , harsh conditions brought a wave of strikes and workers' protests. In 1920 the Lingotto Fiat factory was occupied. The Fascist regime in Italy put an end to the social unrest, banning trade unions and jailing socialist leaders, notably Antonio Gramsci . On
1664-519: Is popular for its aperitivo bars and its small shops run by local artisans. The hub of the Quadrilatero is Piazza Emanuele Filiberto . South of the Quadrilatero Romano stands Via Garibaldi , another popular street of the city. It is a 1 km (0.6 mi) pedestrian street between Piazza Castello and Piazza Statuto which features some of the old shops of the city. Large Piazza Statuto
1768-400: Is split up into 8 boroughs , locally called circoscrizioni ; these do not necessarily correspond to the historical districts of the city, which are rather called quartieri , rioni , borghi , borgate or zone . The "circoscrizioni" system originally comprised 10 of them, that were reduced to 8 by merging borough 9 into 8, and 10 into 2. The following list numerates the boroughs and
1872-453: Is still a drop of our royal blood in his veins, he should set out for Novara immediately and wait there for my orders." As for the Spanish constitution, he declared any sovereign acts taken after the abdication of his brother to be null and void, and then he issued the following proclamation, "Far from consenting to any change in the pre-existing form of government with the nominal abdication of
1976-631: The Castello or Palazzo Madama . The Porta Palatina , on the north side of the current city centre, is still preserved in a park near the cathedral. Remains of the Roman-period theatre are preserved in the area of the Manica Nuova . Turin reached about 5,000 inhabitants at the time, all living inside the high city walls. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire , the town, along with the rest of
2080-572: The Cittadella (Citadel), in the Andrea Guglielminetti garden . What remains of the old medieval and modern fortress of the city, it is a starting point for a tour into the old tunnels below the city. Southeast of the city centre stands San Salvario district, which extends from Corso Vittorio Emanuele II to Corso Bramante and is delimited by the Turin-Genoa railway on the west side and by
2184-522: The Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865. Turin is sometimes called "the cradle of Italian liberty" for having been the political and intellectual centre of the Risorgimento that led to the unification of Italy , as well as the birthplace of notable individuals who contributed to it, such as Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour . Although much of its political influence had been lost by World War II , having been
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#17328559511582288-632: The Leonardo da Vinci self-portrait , and the baroque Royal Church of San Lorenzo . Moreover, Piazza Castello hosts a Fascist era building, the Torre Littoria , a sort of skyscraper which was supposed to become the headquarters of the Fascist party, although it never served as such. The building's style is quite different from the Baroque style of Piazza Castello. The square regularly hosts the main open space events of
2392-463: The Murazzi quays used to host several bars and nightclubs open until the morning until a few years ago. Parallel to Via Roma, the other two popular pedestrian streets, namely Via Lagrange and Via Carlo Alberto , cross the old town from Via Po to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II . Their recent pedestrianisation has improved their original commercial vocation. In particular, Via Lagrange has recently increased
2496-550: The Palatine Towers , an ancient Roman -medieval structure that served as one of four Roman city gates along the city walls of Turin. This gate allowed access from north to the cardo maximus , the typical second main street of a Roman town. The Palatine Towers are among the best preserved Roman remains in Northern Italy. Close to this site, the 51,300 m (552,189 sq ft) Piazza della Repubblica plays host to
2600-774: The Palazzo Madama , were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. A part of the historical centre of Turin was inscribed in the World Heritage List under the name Residences of the Royal House of Savoy . In addition, the city is home to museums, such as the Museo Egizio , and the Mole Antonelliana , the city's architectural symbol, which in turn hosts the National Museum of Cinema . Turin's attractions make it one of
2704-783: The Parlamento Subalpino (the "Subalpine Parliament", Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia which also became the Italian Parliament for a few years, after the Italian unification) and today houses the Museum of the Risorgimento . The square also features the Teatro Carignano , a well-conserved Baroque theatre. Via Carlo Alberto crosses Piazza Carlo Alberto , a big square hosting the rear façade of Palazzo Carignano, in eclectic style. On
2808-534: The Stamenti , the parliament of the kingdom, voted to pay a tax of 400,000 lire, Charles Felix exerted significant pressure to have the poorest classes exempted from the tax and he judged disputes in feudal jurisdiction in favour of vassals rather than feudal lords. When an anti-feudal revolt took place against the Duke of Asinara , who had refused to conform to the regulations of the viceroy, Charles Felix decided to punish both
2912-586: The 1884 International Exhibition . Other buildings in Corso Massimo d'Azeglio include the Torino Esposizioni complex (Turin's exhibition hall built in the 1930s) featuring a monumental entrance with a large full height porch, a main hall designed by Pier Luigi Nervi in reinforced concrete, and the Teatro Nuovo , a theatre mostly focused on ballet exhibitions. Another building is the largest synagogue of
3016-534: The Austrian general Ferdinand von Bubna , who occupied Vercelli and Alessandria on 11 April, while de La Tour, who had received full powers from Charles Felix, occupied Turin on the 10th. On 19 April, despite pressure from the emperors of Russia and Austria, Metternich, Charles Albert, Francis IV, and Charles Felix himself (who hated the idea of receiving the crown "thanks" to rebels), Victor Emmanuel reaffirmed his abdication. Thus, on 25 April, Charles Felix acceded to
3120-603: The Brazilians. In the postwar years, Turin was rapidly rebuilt. The city's automotive industry played a pivotal role in the Italian economic miracle of the 1950s and 1960s, attracting hundreds of thousands of immigrants to the city, particularly from the rural southern regions of Italy. The number of immigrants was so big that Turin was said to be "the third southern Italian city after Naples and Palermo ". The population soon reached 1 million in 1960 and peaked at almost 1.2 million in 1971. The exceptional growth gains of
3224-615: The Crown Council, of which Charles Albert was a member. As a result of the king's indecision, no action was taken. On 12 March, the Citadel of Turin fell into the hands of the rebels. Victor Emmanuel encouraged Charles Albert and Cesare Balbo to negotiate with the Carbonari, who refused to listen to their messages. Thus, in the evening, in the face of the spreading military uprising, the king abdicated in favour of his brother Charles Felix. Since
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3328-468: The French Alps. Winters are moderately cold and dry, summers are mild in the hills and quite hot in the plains. Rain falls mostly during spring and autumn; during the hottest months, otherwise, rains are less frequent but heavier (thunderstorms are frequent). During the winter and autumn months banks of fog, which are sometimes very thick, form in the plains but rarely on the city because of its location at
3432-583: The House of Savoy, who might be willing to break with the absolutist past. The goal of the conspirators was not to abolish the House of Savoy, but to induce it to enact political and social reforms and then undertake a war against Austria, which seemed possible in light of the deeply anti-Austrian sentiments of the Victor Emmanuel I. In this, the conspirators took advantage of the absence of Charles Felix, who they thought would have been able to induce Victor Emmanuel to oppose their plans. They planned to raise
3536-506: The Interior, general Emanuele Pes di Villamarina as minister of war, and Lodovico Sauli d'Igliano as minister of foreign affairs) and attempted to negotiate with the rebels, but he achieved nothing. Given the impossibility of taking any decisions without the agreement of the new king, Charles Albert sent Charles Felix an account of the events, seeking instructions, but the letter took a very long time to reach its destination. Fearful of becoming
3640-718: The Italian peninsula, was conquered by the Heruli and the Ostrogoths , recaptured by the Romans , but then conquered again by the Lombards whose territory then fell into the hands of the Franks under Charlemagne (773). The Contea di Torino (countship) was founded in the 940s and was held by the Arduinic dynasty until 1050. After the marriage of Adelaide of Susa with Humbert Biancamano 's son Otto ,
3744-455: The Kingdom, and placed G. Piccono della Valle and G.C. Brignole in charge of foreign affairs and financial affairs respectively. Finally, he began the suppression of opposition. The following extract from the work of Guido Astuti describes his actions: The new king, Charles Felix, let loose a reaction with arbitrary repressive methods, using extraordinary commissions to judge the rebels and establishing political investigators in order to purge
3848-491: The Po river on the east side. Home to an increasing immigrants' community, the district is an example of integration among different cultures; it also features an incremented nightlife after the opening of several low-cost bars and restaurants. San Salvario is crossed by two main roads, Via Nizza and Via Madama Cristina , and just as the city centre it is characterised by the grid plan typical of Turin's old neighbourhoods. The hub of
3952-551: The RAF; the heaviest raid took place on 13 July 1943, when 295 bombers dropped 763 tons of bombs, killing 792 people. Overall, these raids killed 2,069 inhabitants of Turin, and destroyed or damaged 54% of all buildings in the city. The Allied's campaign in Italy started off from the South and slowly moved northwards in the following two years, leaving the northern regions occupied by Germans and collaborationist forces for several years. Turin
4056-639: The Scuola Gratuita di Canto (now the Genoa Conservatory ) was established to train singers for opera performance at the theatre. For nearly forty years from 1853, Verdi spent the winter in Genoa, but he had few strong professional ties with the Teatro Carlo Felice. In 1892, Genoa commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America and to celebrate the occasion the Carlo Felice
4160-718: The army and the bureaucracy Finally, the king instituted three different jurisdictions: a mixed civil and military tribunal called the Royal Delegation with penal powers, a military commission for investigating the conduct of officers and non-commissioned officers, and a scrutiny commission for investigating the conduct of every employee of the kingdom. Turin Turin ( / tj ʊəˈr ɪ n , ˈ tj ʊər ɪ n / ture- IN , TURE -in , Piedmontese : [tyˈriŋ] ; Italian : Torino [toˈriːno] ; Latin : Augusta Taurinorum , then Taurinum )
4264-405: The army, surround the royal residence at Moncalieri castle and force him to grant a constitution and declare war on Austria. The role of Charles Albert would have been to mediate between the conspirators and the king, but the following morning, he changed his mind and attempted to escape from the conspirators, although he did not disavow them. The conspirators grew suspicious and prepared to cancel
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4368-1553: The association football club Juventus , which competes with its rival Torino in the Derby della Mole , the city's derby . The city, among other events, was one of the host cities of the 1934 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, along with hosting the 2006 Winter Olympics ; Turin hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and is hosting the tennis ATP Finals from 2021 until 2025. [REDACTED] Roman Republic 58–27 BC [REDACTED] Roman Empire 27 BC–285 AD [REDACTED] Western Roman Empire 285–476 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Odoacer 476–493 [REDACTED] Ostrogothic Kingdom 493–553 [REDACTED] Eastern Roman Empire 553–569 [REDACTED] Lombard Kingdom 569–773 [REDACTED] Carolingian Empire 773–888 [REDACTED] March of Ivrea 888–941 [REDACTED] March of Turin 941–1046 [REDACTED] County of Savoy 1046–1416 [REDACTED] Duchy of Savoy 1416–1720 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Sardinia 1720–1792 [REDACTED] First French Republic 1792–1804 [REDACTED] First French Empire 1804–1814 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Sardinia 1814–1861 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Italy 1861–1943 [REDACTED] Italian Social Republic 1943–1945 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Italy 1945–1946 [REDACTED] Italian Republic 1946–present The Taurini were an ancient Celto-Ligurian , Alpine people, who occupied
4472-568: The biggest open market in Europe, locally known as mercato di Porta Palazzo ( Porta Palazzo or Porta Pila are the historical and local names of this area). West of the Porte Palatine stands the Quadrilatero Romano (Roman Quadrilateral), the old medieval district recently renewed. The current neighbourhood is characterised by its tiny streets and its several medieval buildings and today it
4576-535: The centre of the roundabout between Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Corso Galileo Ferraris : the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II , a king of Savoy statue situated on a 39-meters high column. Next to the museum, another significant residential building previously hosted the head office of Juventus , one of the two main Turin football clubs . West of this area, the main building of Polytechnic University of Turin stands along Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi . The 1958 building,
4680-454: The city for 117 days without conquering it. By the Treaty of Utrecht the Duke of Savoy acquired Sicily , soon traded for Sardinia , and part of the former Duchy of Milan , and obtained the title of King of Sardinia ; thus Turin became the capital of a European kingdom. The architect Filippo Juvarra began a major redesign of the city; Turin had about 90,000 inhabitants at the time. Turin, like
4784-427: The city gained it the nickname of Capitale dell'automobile (Automobile Capital), being often compared with Detroit , the major centre of the U.S. automobile industry (both cities has been twinned in 1998). In the 1970s and 1980s, the oil and automotive industry crisis severely hit the city, and its population began to sharply decline, losing more than one-fourth of its total in 30 years. The long population decline of
4888-535: The city has begun to reverse itself only in recent years, as the population grew from 865,000 to slightly over 900,000 by the end of the century. In 2006, Turin hosted the Winter Olympic Games . Turin is in northwest Italy . It is surrounded on the western and northern front by the Alps and on the eastern front by a high hill that is the natural continuation of the hills of Monferrato . Four major rivers pass through
4992-719: The city, in Piazzetta Primo Levi , a square. Its architecture stands in the main sight of the city, as characterised by four large towers – 27 m (89 ft) high – topped by four onion-shaped domes. South of Centro stands the Crocetta district, considered one of the most exclusive districts of the city, because of highly rated residential buildings. At the heart of the district is the partially pedestrianised area crossed by Corso Trieste , Corso Trento and Corso Duca D'Aosta , plenty of some notable residential buildings in eclectic , neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau style. The area
5096-421: The city, live concerts included. As for the southern part of the street, Via Roma ends in Piazza Carlo Felice and in its Giardino Sambuy , a wide fenced garden right in the middle of the square. Across from Piazza Carlo Felice stands the monumental façade of Porta Nuova railway station , the central station of the city built between 1861 and 1868 by the architect Alessandro Mazzucchetti. The passengers building
5200-411: The city. The half-pedestrianized square hosts some significant buildings such as Palazzo Reale (Former Savoy Royal House), the Palazzo Madama (which previously hosted the Savoy senate and, for few years, the Italian senate after Italian unification), the former Baroque Teatro Regio di Torino (rebuilt in modern style in the 1960s, after being destroyed by fire), the Royal Library of Turin which hosts
5304-403: The city: the Po and three of its tributaries, the Dora Riparia (once known as Duria Minor by the Romans, from the Celtic noun duria meaning "water"), the Stura di Lanzo and the Sangone . Located in northwestern Italy at the foot of the Alps , Turin features a mid-latitude, four seasons humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa ), similar to that of Grenoble , located not far away in
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#17328559511585408-422: The district is Piazza Madama Cristina which hosts a big open market, while several commercial activities flourish around it. The celebrated Parco del Valentino is situated in the east side of San Salvario and, albeit not in downtown, it represents kind of central park of Turin. Thanks to the vicinity to the city centre, the park is very popular among the local people, during the day but also at night, because of
5512-485: The duke, who was stripped of his property, as well as the revolutionaries. Despite the precarious political and social situation, Charles Felix was able to bring some improvements to the agriculture and economy of the island. Under his rule, an agrarian society and an office for the administration of Crown mines and forests were established. Additionally, the farming of olives was encouraged and commercial contracts were granted to encourage local production. Finally, he began
5616-430: The end of the Susa Valley . Snowfalls are not uncommon during the winter months, although substantial accumulation is quite uncommon. Its position on the east side of the Alps makes the weather drier than on the west side because of the föhn wind effect. The highest temperature ever recorded was 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) on 11 August 2003 , and the lowest was −21.8 °C (−7.2 °F) on 12 February 1956. Turin
5720-400: The equestrian monument to Emmanuel Philibert , also known as Caval ëd Brons in the local dialect ("Bronze Horse"); the monument depicts the Duke sheathing his sword after the Battle of St. Quentin . Piazza San Carlo arcades host the most ancient cafés of the city, such as Caffé Torino and Caffé San Carlo . At the northern end of Via Roma stands Piazza Castello , regarded as the heart of
5824-411: The false upper floors are in transalpino (i.e. French) style. The façade sports the huge coat of arms of the House of Savoy . Today, Castello del Valentino serves as the faculty of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Turin . Another cluster of buildings in the park is the Borgo Medioevale (Medieval village), a replica of medieval mountain castles of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, built for
5928-412: The family of the Counts of Savoy gained control. While the title of count was held by the Bishop as count of Turin (1092–1130 and 1136–1191) it was ruled as a prince-bishopric by the Bishops. In 1230–1235, it was a lordship under the Marquess of Montferrat , styled Lord of Turin. At the end of the 13th century, when it was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy, the city already had 20,000 inhabitants. Many of
6032-412: The first and original building of the University of Turin and the historical Caffè Fiorio , which was the favourite café of the 19th-century politicians. Via Po ends in Piazza Vittorio Veneto (simply called Piazza Vittorio locally), the largest Baroque square in Europe and today heart of Turin nightlife. Piazza Vittorio features the most fashionable bars and not far from here, along the Po riverfront,
6136-413: The gardens and palaces were built in the 15th century when the city was redesigned. The University of Turin was also founded during this period. Emmanuel Philibert , also known under the nickname of Iron Head (Testa 'd Fer), made Turin the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in 1563. Piazza Reale (named Piazza San Carlo today) and Via Nuova (current Via Roma) were added along with the first enlargement of
6240-497: The insurrection which they had planned for the 10th. The same day, Charles Albert, completely penitent, raced to Moncalieri in order to confess everything to Victor Emmanuel and beg for pardon. In the night the garrison of Alessandria , commanded by one of the conspirators, Guglielmo Ansaldi, rebelled and occupied the city. Although they had been abandoned by the Prince, the rest of the revolutionaries decided to act at this point. On Sunday 11 March 1821, King Victor Emmanuel I met with
6344-428: The island had experienced a period of disorder, exacerbated by widespread poverty, which had led to an increase in crime, which the viceroy suppressed with notable harshness, writing to his brother the king, "slaughter, slaughter, for the good of the human race." Charles Felix established a military regime, such that his Sardinian subjects referred to him as "Carlo Feroce" (Charles the Ferocious). The tool of this regime
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#17328559511586448-490: The king, our beloved brother, we consider all the royal subjects who have aided or abetted the traitors or who have presumed to proclaim a constitution, to be rebels." Charles Albert, deeply discouraged, did as Charles Felix commanded, went to Novara, and issued a proclamation renouncing the regency and calling on everyone to submit to Charles Felix. On the 29th, he received a letter from Charles Felix ordering him to depart with his family for Florence. With Charles Albert out of
6552-402: The latter had become sick and died in Sardinia), while the Duke of Montferrat and the Count of Morian were deceased, so Charles Felix had become the heir presumptive and therefore had to produce a male heir. Although the marriage to Maria Cristina proved harmonious, she was unable to have children, forcing Victor Emmanuel to consider the succession of Charles Albert , Prince of Carignano , from
6656-472: The latter was in Modena at the time, Charles Albert was appointed regent. The abdication of the king, which followed the dismissal of the ministers of state, led to chaos because it created a dynastic crisis which foreign powers would not ignore and because it split the army and bureaucracy, preventing every possibility of maintaining order. The regent tried to take control by naming a new government (the lawyer, Ferdinando del Pozzo (1768-1843) as Minister of
6760-590: The location of the historical districts inside them: The mayor of Turin is directly elected every five years. The current mayor of the city is Stefano Lo Russo ( PD ), elected in 2021. Turin's historical architecture is predominantly Baroque and was developed under the Savoyard state . Nonetheless, the main street of the city centre, Via Roma , was built during the Fascist era (from 1931 to 1937) as an example of Italian Rationalism , replacing former buildings already present in this area. Via Roma runs between Piazza Carlo Felice and Piazza Castello . Buildings on
6864-406: The most iconic landmarks of the city, like the Mole Antonelliana , the Egyptian Museum , the Gran Madre di Dio church and Piazza Vittorio Veneto were built in this period. The late 19th century was also a period of rapid industrialization, especially in the automotive sector: in 1899 Fiat was established in the city, followed by Lancia in 1906. The Universal Exposition held in Turin in 1902
6968-415: The most richly beautiful of opera houses had become a skeleton of bare walls and roofless porticos. After the war opera seasons were held for over forty years in an emergency venue, at the Cinema Teatro Margherita, later transformed into a department store Reconstruction plans began immediately after the war's close. The first design by Paolo Antonio Chessa (1951) was rejected; the second by Carlo Scarpa
7072-430: The name of Julia Augusta Taurinorum (modern Turin). Both Livy and Strabo mention the Taurini's country as including one of the passes of the Alps , which points to a wider use of the name in earlier times. In the first century BC (probably 28 BC ), the Romans founded Augusta Taurinorum . Via Garibaldi traces the exact path of the Roman city's decumanus which began at the Porta Decumani , later incorporated into
7176-446: The new king and Charles Felix had never been good but now deteriorated as the king strove to keep his brothers in the dark about affairs of the state. Two years into his reign, Charles Emmanuel IV was forced to surrender all royal control on the mainland. Along with the king and the rest of the royal family, Charles Felix left Turin on the evening of 9 December 1798 for Cagliari , where they arrived on 3 March 1799. Charles Emmanuel IV
7280-416: The newly proclaimed united Kingdom of Italy having been the political and intellectual centre of the Risorgimento movement, until 1865, when the capital was moved to Florence , and then to Rome after the 1870 conquest of the Papal States . The 1871 opening of the Fréjus Tunnel made Turin an important communication node between Italy and France. The city in that period had 250,000 inhabitants. Some of
7384-448: The object of popular anger, on the evening of 13 March 1821, Charles Albert signed a decree granting a constitution along the lines of the Spanish constitution of 1812, which would not become law until approved by the king. The next day, the regent decided to form a junta, which was to protect the parliament. Two days after that, he swore to observe the Spanish Constitution, in a Savoyard version which had been slightly altered according to
7488-660: The operations for the reconquest of Nice and Savoy along with the Austrians under general J. de Vins, into the Susa Valley , to Pinerolo , Cuneo , and Tende . Charles Felix remained very far from the front lines in any case. In spring 1794, after the arrival in Aosta of his brother the Duke of Monferrat, Charles Felix and Giuseppe Placido went to Morgex in order to retake some positions of relative strategic importance, but they did not achieve anything. On 28 April 1796, Victor Amadeus III
7592-607: The other hand honest, sincere, and capable of emotion and fondness. He had a clever mind, at times even ironic. He possessed a sacral conception of the monarchy and the right to reign. During the years of the French Revolution and the Italian campaign , Charles Felix formed part of a "parallel court" opposed to Charles Emmanuel IV's circle, along with his brother Victor Emmanuel, the latter's wife Maria Theresa , Maurizio Giuseppe Duke of Monferrat, and Giuseppe Placido, count of Moriana. In this period, Charles Felix began to keep
7696-400: The other hand, Benito Mussolini largely subsidised the automotive industry, to provide vehicles to the army. Turin was then a target of Allied strategic bombing during World War II , being heavily damaged by the air raids in its industrial areas as well as in the city centre. Along with Milan , Genoa , and La Spezia , Turin was one of Italy's four cities that experienced area bombing by
7800-430: The other side stands the monumental Biblioteca Nazionale (National Library). Not far from Via Po stands the symbol of Turin, namely the Mole Antonelliana , so named after the architect who built it, Alessandro Antonelli . Construction began in 1863 as a Jewish synagogue . Nowadays it houses the National Museum of Cinema and it is believed to be the tallest museum in the world at 167 m (548 ft). The building
7904-414: The persecution of "state criminals," Charles Felix legitimated the adoption of military procedures and granted every power to the police, from spying to censoring letters and placing bounties on suspects. In his reorganisation work, however, he displayed notable energy to control the autonomy of the judiciary and the local bureaucracy and managed to correct some abuses of the feudal regime. In fact, when
8008-496: The population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 1.7 million inhabitants. The Turin metropolitan area is estimated by the OECD to have a population of 2.2 million. The city was historically a major European political centre. From 1563, it was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy , then of the Kingdom of Sardinia ruled by the House of Savoy , and the first capital of
8112-529: The portion between Piazza Carlo Felice and Piazza San Carlo were designed by rationalist architect Marcello Piacentini . These blocks were built into a reticular system, composed by austere buildings in clear rationalist style, such as the impressive Hotel Principi di Piemonte and the former Hotel Nazionale in Piazza CLN . Porches are built in a continuous entablature and marked with double columns, to be consistent with those of Piazza San Carlo. The section of
8216-509: The presence of luxury boutiques. This street also hosts the Egyptian Museum of Turin , home to what is regarded as one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt. Via Lagrange and Via Carlo Alberto cross two significant squares of the city, respectively. The former crosses Piazza Carignano , well known mainly for the undulating "concave – convex-concave" Baroque façade of Palazzo Carignano . This building used to host
8320-468: The requests of Victor Emmanuel's consort, Maria Therese . At this point, Charles Felix, who had now received the letter from Charles Albert notifying him of his brother's abdication, decided to act. He told the messenger not to address him as "majesty", then asserted that since the abdication had been extracted through violence, it could not be considered valid. Finally, he said, "tell the Prince that, if there
8424-458: The rest of Piedmont , was annexed by the French Empire in 1802. The city thus became the seat of the prefecture of Pô department until the fall of Napoleon in 1814, when the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia was restored with Turin as its capital. In the following decades, the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia led the struggle towards the unification of Italy . In 1861, Turin became the capital of
8528-401: The several bars and nightclubs placed here. From the terraces of Parco del Valentino, many sights of the hills on the other side of the river can be appreciated. In the centre of the park stands the Castello del Valentino , built in the 17th century. This castle has a horseshoe shape, with four rectangular towers, one at each angle, and a wide inner court with a marble pavement. The ceilings of
8632-410: The situation escalated. A connection was made between the protestors and the secret society of the "Federati", whose leaders Santorre di Rossi , Giacinto Collegno , Carlo Emanuele Asinari, and Guglielmo Moffa di Lisio Gribaldi (all soldiers, officials, or sons of ministers) and Roberto d'Azeglio met with Charles Albert on 6 March. They were ready to act, having identified the prince as a new man for
8736-413: The street between Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello was built in an eclectic style, with arcades characterised by Serliana -type arches. To this day Via Roma is the street featuring the most fashionable boutiques of the city. Via Roma crosses one of the main squares of the city: the pedestrianized Piazza San Carlo, built by Carlo di Castellamonte in the 17th century. In the middle of the square stands
8840-483: The subsequent Congress of Verona , Charles Felix feared pressure for constitutional changes and reiterated in his instructions to his ambassadors that the repression of the "revolutionary spirit" inspired by the Congress of Laibach belonged exclusively to him and that he was firmly convinced of the necessity of this obligation. Having decided to remain at Modena, he appointed Ignazio Thaon di Revel as Lieutenant General of
8944-459: The throne after Felix's death. Charles Felix was born in Turin as the eleventh child and fifth son born to Victor Amadeus III of Savoy and Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain . His paternal grandparents were Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy and his German wife Polyxena of Hesse-Rotenburg . His maternal grandparents were French-born King Philip V of Spain and his Italian wife, Elisabeth Farnese . He
9048-574: The throne. Once control of Turin was re-established, Charles Felix, who was still in Modena, entered into personal communication with the Emperor of Austria in order to obtain recognition from the Congress of Laibach , which was then in session, that he would be able to assume full control of his possessions, as an absolute monarch, and that Austria would not be allowed to interfere in any way in his territories. At
9152-449: The upper valley of the Po River , in the center of modern Piedmont . In 218 BC, they were attacked by Hannibal as he was allied with their long-standing enemies, the Insubres . The Taurini chief town ( Taurasia ) was captured by Hannibal's forces after a three-day siege. As a people they are rarely mentioned in history. It is believed that a Roman colony was established after 28 BC under
9256-517: The walls, in the first half of the 17th century; in the same period the Palazzo Reale ( Royal Palace of Turin ) was also built. In the second half of that century, a second enlargement of the walls was planned and executed, with the building of the arcaded Via Po, connecting Piazza Castello with the bridge on the Po through the regular street grid. In 1706, during the Battle of Turin , the French besieged
9360-433: The way, Charles Felix dispatched several letters to Francis I of Austria , asking him to send troops in order to suppress the revolt. On 3 April, he issued a second proclamation which granted a pardon to the soldiers while applying strict sanctions to rebel officials, which ultimately, prevented any form of compromise. Chancellor Metternich himself said to Francis IV of Modena that this proclamation had been imprudent and
9464-516: The world's top 250 tourist destinations and the tenth most visited city in Italy in 2008. The city also hosts some of Italy's best universities, colleges, academies, lycea , and gymnasia , such as the University of Turin , founded in the 15th century, and the Turin Polytechnic . Turin is also worldwide famous for icons like the Shroud of Turin , the gianduja , the automobile brand Fiat, and
9568-496: Was a younger brother of two other rulers of Savoy Charles Emmanuel IV and Victor Emmanuel I . He spent his childhood with his sister Maria Carolina and his younger brother, Giuseppe Benedetto Placido, Count of Moriana, at the Castle of Moncalieri . From his youth, Carlo Felice was reported as having a very complex character: on the one hand consistent and inflexible, private, distrustful, and impulsive, if not touchy and vindictive; on
9672-486: Was approved in 1977 but brought to a halt by his untimely death. Aldo Rossi ultimately provided today's design, in which portions of the original facade have been recreated but the interior is entirely modern. The hall officially reopened in June 1991, with a main hall holding up to 2,000 seats and a smaller auditorium holding up to 200 seats. The theatre is the main location of the concert seasons of Giovine Orchestra Genovese ,
9776-555: Was built between 1903 and 1937 replacing the old parade ground , which was moved in the Southern part of the city. North of this area stands the GAM (Galleria d'Arte Moderna) , one of the two Museum of Modern Arts of the Turin Metro area (the second and largest one is hosted in Castello di Rivoli , a former Savoy royal castle in the suburbs). The museum stands in front a huge monument situated in
9880-536: Was built to celebrate an alleged miracle which took place during the sack of the city in 1453, when a soldier was carrying off a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament ; the monstrance fell to the ground, while the host remained suspended in air. The present church, erected in 1610 to replace the original chapel which stood on the spot, is the work of Ascanio Vitozzi . Next to the Turin Cathedral stand
9984-502: Was childless and, after the death of his wife, he abdicated in favour of his brother Victor Emmanuel I on 4 June 1802. The latter did not take possession of the domains in Sardinia himself, preferring to entrust them to Charles Felix as viceroy. Charles Felix's government of Sardinia was rather rigid and authoritarian. Since the Sardinian revolutionary movements [ it ] in 1794,
10088-523: Was forced to restore the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and the hope of obtaining similar concessions from their own sovereigns arose in many European states. Insurrections broke out in Naples and Palermo. The initial indications of the crisis were confirmed on 11 January 1821 when four students were stopped by the police at a theatre performance in Turin because they were wearing red caps with black bows,
10192-567: Was forced to sign the Armistice of Cherasco with the French, which was followed by the Treaty of Paris on 15 May, which accepted French control of Nice, Savoy, Genevoise, and some fortresses. Charles Felix, who had been titled Duke of Genoa, obtained the title of Marquis of Susa in compensation for his nominal loss. Victor Amadeus III died in October of the same year and was succeeded as Prince of Piedmont by Charles Emmanuel IV. The relationship between
10296-401: Was laid on 19 March 1826. The inaugural performance of Bellini's Bianca e Fernando took place on 7 April 1828, even though the structure and decoration were not quite finished. The auditorium accommodated an audience of about 2,500 in five tiers (each with 33 boxes), a gallery above, and standing room in the orchestra pit. The acoustics were considered among the best of the time. In 1829
10400-692: Was not captured by the Allies until the end of Spring Offensive of 1945 . By the time the vanguard of the armoured reconnaissance units of Brazilian Expeditionary Force reached the city, it was already freed by the Italian Partisans , that had begun revolting against the Germans and the Italian RSI troops on 25 April 1945. Days later, troops from the US Army's 1st Armored and 92nd Infantry Divisions came to substitute
10504-452: Was renovated and redecorated at a cost of 420,000 lire (nearly £17,000). Verdi was approached to compose a suitable opera, but he declined the honour, making the excuse that he was too old. Instead, Alberto Franchetti 's opera Cristoforo Colombo premiered at the Carlo Felice on 6 October 1892. The hall was altered many times in the years 1859–1934, and remained remarkably unscathed by war until 9 February 1941 when, during Operation Grog ,
10608-536: Was renovated to host a shopping mall and more efficient passenger service offices. However, it is still an example of monumental architecture, with its stately foyer and some Baroque sights, such as the Sala Reale (the former Royal waiting room). In Piazza Castello converge some of the main streets of the city centre. Among them, one of the most significant is the arcaded Via Po , built by Amedeo di Castellamonte in 1674 and featuring some interesting buildings, such as
10712-474: Was the special court of the Viceregal delegation for the investigation of political proceedings, which took action immediately against the "capopolo" (popular leader), Vincenzo Sulis , who was guilty of nothing other than having been more successful than the viceroy in defeating the revolutionary movements. When Sulis was condemned to twenty years in gaol, the viceroy considered it a lenient sentence. Furthermore, in
10816-400: Was written "with animosity, passion, and hatred." The rebels, realising that no other option remained for them, marched on Novara, where the forces loyal to Charles Felix were gathered under the command of Vittorio Sallier de La Tour . This, inevitably, convinced Metternich to intervene. On 8 April there was a battle (Noara-Borgo Vercelli) with the troops of de La Tour and then with those of
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