Musei reali di Torino, Art museum complex in Turin, Italy
The Musei Reali di Torino are a museum network in the historic center of Turin, bringing together a royal palace, an art gallery, a library, gardens, and an archaeological collection under one institution. The different parts of the complex are clustered together and accessible from a shared entrance area.
The palace at the heart of the complex was built in the 17th century as the main residence of the House of Savoy, and the collections grew around it over the following two centuries. When the monarchy ended in the 20th century, the buildings passed to the Italian state and were opened to the public.
The Sabauda Gallery holds paintings collected by the Savoy royal family over several centuries, and many of them were chosen for personal taste rather than public display. Walking through those rooms gives a clear sense of what the court valued in art and decoration.
Because the complex covers several buildings, it is worth picking up a map at the entrance before moving further in. Visiting on a weekday tends to be quieter and works better if you want to spend more time in the individual collections.
Below the palace complex, excavations revealed ancient Roman roads that are now visible inside the archaeological collection. These underground remains show that Turin was already a structured city long before the Savoy family arrived.
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