A library fit for a king
Piazza Castello
Considered to sit at the very heart of Turin, Piazza Castello is not only bordered by several important landmarks, but is also the epicenter of four different prominent streets: Via Roma, Via Garibaldi (the oldest street in the city, dating back to Roman times), Via Po (which leads down to the Piazza Vittorio Veneto and the River Po), and Via Petro Micca.
At the center of the square sits the Palazzo Madama, and at its flanks are the Teatro Regio, the Palazzo Reale, the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, the Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo, and the Biblioteca Reale. It is, after the Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the largest square in the city, and it was originally designed by Ascanio Vitozzi in 1584.
That tall building at the right is the Torre Littoria, which was the first high-rise in the city. It was built in 1933-34 to be the National Fascist Party’s headquarters, though it was never used as such, as this was housed first in Milan and then in Rome.
Biblioteca Reale
The Royal Library of Turin is technically part of the Royal Palace, but it is (freely) accessed through its own entrance in the Piazza Castello. The library was designed by the court architect, Pelagio Palagi, and let me tell you, it is dreamy.
Founded in 1842 by King Charles Albert of Sardinia as part of an effort to boost the cultural standing of the nation, it originally held and safeguarded the House of Savoy’s collection of manuscripts. Today, it stores over 200,000 items, including the original illuminated manuscripts as well as various volumes, papers, and engravings.
Gold Colored Fox 