Royal Armoury of Turin
The Royal Armoury of Turin (Italian: Armeria Reale) is one of the world's most important collections of arms and armour, formed in
World Heritage
list since 1997.
History
The Royal Armoury was founded by
Charles Albert, king of Sardinia, and opened to the public in 1837. Since then it has been housed in the Galleria Beaumont, built on the site of a previous gallery connecting the Royal Palace to Palazzo Madama. Designed by Filippo Juvarra in 1733, it was decorated by the court painter Claudio Francesco Beaumont (hence its name) in 1738–1743, whose oil paintings on the ceiling depict Stories of Aeneas. The gallery was completed after 1762 by Benedetto Alfieri
, who also designed the nearby stairway as an access to the State offices (Segreterie di Stato).
Until 1832, several large paintings from the royal collections were displayed on the walls of this gallery. The paintings were then moved to Charles Albert enriched such collection through the acquisition of single pieces on the market (mainly in Paris) and of whole private collections, such as the one formed by the set designer Alessandro Sanquirico
in Milan (1833) and the Martinengo della Fabbrica collection from Brescia (1839).
In 1836, the king asked Royal Library
still housed on the ground floor.
kings of Italy, since the Savoy
family gained that title after the unification of the country in 1861. European and American swords, guns and rifles are now displayed alongside oriental arms and armour acquired by or donated to the kings.
Collections
Among the objects belonging to the collection are the sword of San Maurizio, one of the most important relics owned by the
Umberto I; a Russian model Smith & Wesson
revolver dating from the late 19th century.
See also
- Musée de l'Armée
- Royal Armouries
- Royal Armoury of Madrid
References
- Angelo Angelucci, Catalogo della Armeria Reale, Torino, Candeletti, 1890
- L'Armeria Reale di Torino, ed. by Franco Mazzini, Busto Arsizio, Bramante Editrice, 1982
- L'Armeria Reale di Torino. Guida breve, ed. by Paolo Venturoli, Torino, Umberto Allemandi & C., 2001. ISBN 88-422-1018-8.
- La Galleria Beaumont. Percorso di visita, ed. by Paolo Venturoli, Torino, Umberto Allemandi & C., 2005. ISBN 88-422-1391-8.
- L'Armeria Reale, la Biblioteca Reale, ed. by Massimiliano Caldera, Alessandra Guerrini and Clara Vitulo, Torino, Umberto Allemandi & C., 2008. ISBN 978-88-422-1701-5.
External links
| Archaeological sites |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Basilica and Cathedral | ||
| Churches |
| |
| Squares |
| |
| Other structures | ||
| Theatres | ||
| Museums | ||
| Gardens and parks | ||
| Sporting scenaries | ||
| Events and traditions | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
