Royal Palace of Turin, Royal palace in Turin, Italy
The Royal Palace of Turin is a palace in central Turin, not a castle. Its long, symmetrical facade of pale cream stone has a central block and two higher side wings, a rusticated ground floor, a piano nobile and a top storey with regular rectangular windows. A blue sign above the entrance reads "Musei Reali"; two bronze equestrian statues on stone plinths flank the gated entrance.
Construction started in the mid-17th century after the site was converted from a bishop's palace. The building became the seat of the dukes and later the kings of Piedmont and Sardinia.
The palace's name comes from its role as the Savoy court's seat, and the blue "Musei Reali" sign above the entrance marks its 2016 merger with the Sabauda Gallery, Royal Armoury, Royal Library, Chiablese Palace and Museum of Antiquities. The royal gates carry a golden Medusa symbol meant to ward off intruders. The Daniel Gallery is named after Daniel Seiter, who painted its ceiling murals.
The palace faces Piazzetta Reale, next to Piazza Castello, where via Po, via Roma, via Garibaldi and via Pietro Micca meet. The ticket office and museum entrance are inside the complex, which also holds the Sabauda Gallery, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Library. The route crosses the state rooms and the gardens, so allow several hours.
The Chapel of the Holy Shroud, added to the palace in 1668–1694, has a spiral dome by Guarino Guarini and joins the apse of Turin Cathedral. The Shroud belonged to the Savoy family from 1453 until 1946. The palace's royal gates carry a golden Medusa symbol meant to fend off intruders.
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