The fascinating history of Palazzo Chiablese Turin

What is the history of Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

Palazzo Chiablese is one of the most elegant and surprising Savoy residences. Located in the heart of Turin, next to the Duomo and the Royal Museums, it hides behind a simple facade a world rich in furnishings, stuccoes, and colors of the most refined European rococo.

Why is it called Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

The name comes from Benedetto Maurizio, Duke of Chiablese, son of Carlo Emanuele III, to whom the palace was assigned in 1753. From that moment on, the residence was identified with the title of the prince.

What are the origins of Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

The building was constructed in the sixteenth century for Marchesa Beatrice Langosco di Stroppiana. In the following centuries, it was inhabited by various cadet members of the Savoy dynasty.

Who transformed Palazzo Chiablese Turin into a rococo residence?

Carlo Emanuele III entrusted his first architect, Benedetto Alfieri, with the expansion and redefinition of the palace for his son Benedetto Maurizio. Thus was born one of the most elegant apartments in the city.

What works did Benedetto Alfieri carry out at Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

Alfieri expanded the building to occupy an entire block, designed the facade towards the Duomo (which remained unfinished), and created a connecting gallery with the nearby Royal Palace.

Which artists decorated Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

The decoration involved the best artists active at court: painters from Turin, Rome, and Naples, expert stucco workers, and great cabinetmakers.

What makes the furnishings of Palazzo Chiablese Turin special?

The furnishings were made by Pietro Piffetti, an absolute master of eighteenth-century cabinetmaking. His spectacular piece in the Alcova is considered an Italian masterpiece.

What are the typical decorative elements of Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

Carved boiseries, rococo stuccoes, vibrant ceilings, and painted overdoors characterize the main rooms. The halls still retain an intimate and precious atmosphere today.

Who lived in Palazzo Chiablese Turin during the French occupation?

During the Napoleonic domination, the residence was used by Camillo Borghese and his wife Paolina Bonaparte.

Which members of the House of Savoy lived in Palazzo Chiablese Turin in the nineteenth century?

Among the most illustrious inhabitants were King Carlo Felice, who preferred it to the Royal Palace, and Ferdinando di Savoia-Carignano, Duke of Genoa, along with his wife Elisabetta di Sassonia.

Who was born in Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

In 1851, Margherita di Savoia, the future first queen of Italy, was born. The palace was her childhood residence.

What transformations occurred in Palazzo Chiablese Turin in the nineteenth century?

A final decorative intervention was carried out in 1850 to celebrate the marriage between Ferdinando and Elisabetta di Sassonia, enriching the rooms with new furnishings and stuccoes.

What happened to Palazzo Chiablese Turin during World War II?

In 1943, bombings in Turin caused serious damage: a seventeenth-century salon was completely destroyed, and other rooms, such as the Alcova, suffered significant injuries.

What restorations have been carried out at Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

Recent restorations, completed in 2020 for some rooms, have allowed the recovery of the original appearance of the environments. The noble floor is now once again open to visitors.

What is the current function of Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

Part of the building houses the Superintendency for Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape. On the ground floor are the exhibition spaces of the Royal Museums dedicated to temporary exhibitions.

What to see during a visit to Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

Visitors can admire the sumptuous rococo environments on the first floor, the rooms decorated with stuccoes and paintings, the Alcova with Piffetti's furniture, and the spaces dedicated to exhibitions.

Why is Palazzo Chiablese Turin important for Savoy history?

Because it preserves one of the richest testimonies of artistic taste of the eighteenth century, as well as being the birthplace and residence of the most important members of the dynasty.

How is Palazzo Chiablese Turin connected to the Royal Palace?

A gallery designed by Alfieri directly connects the two residences, highlighting the central role of the complex in court life.

Why visit Palazzo Chiablese Turin?

To immerse oneself in a refined world of baroque art, discover the history of the Savoy, and admire one of the most elegant eighteenth-century apartments in Europe.

Where is Palazzo Chiablese Turin located?

The palace is located next to the Duomo of Turin and is part of the large complex of the Royal Museums, easily reachable on foot from the historic center.