Casa dei Romagnano, Medieval building in Via dei Mercanti, Turin, Italy.
Casa dei Romagnano is a medieval building on Via dei Mercanti in Turin, distinguished by pointed arch windows on its facade. The second floor features carved thistle and oak leaf motifs, while other windows were modified during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The house belonged to the Romagnano marquises, a cadet branch of the Arduinici marquises of Turin recorded in 11th-century imperial diplomas. Marquis Antonio Romagnano served as chancellor to Duke Ludovico from 1449 to 1458, and Brianzo di Romagnano lodged the Venetian ambassador Andrea Morosini here at the request of Duke Amedeo VIII. The 1885 restoration by Riccardo Brayda, the first deep recovery of a medieval civil building in Turin with a published report, exposed the terracotta work.
The name survives in Piedmontese as Cà dij Romagnan. The family were a cadet branch of the Arduinici, marquises of Turin, and served the Savoy court as ambassadors: Brianzo di Romagnano lodged the Venetian ambassador Andrea Morosini here at the request of Duke Amedeo VIII.
The main facade faces the narrow Via dei Mercanti; the secondary side looks onto a lane that has long been closed off. The ogival window frames in cotto, with acorns, small gourds and oak leaves, are best examined from street level. The building is a private residence, so only the exterior can be seen.
Excavations near the building revealed that the original structure had a portico of at least four arches extending along the continuation of the alley. The secondary facade still shows a fully walled pointed-arch window and sections of herringbone brickwork.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,347 contributors worldwide.