The legacy of the powerful House of Savoy
From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the Dukes of Savoy surrounded Turin with a “crown” of residencies. The Palazzo Reale, in the city centre, today houses a rich collection of ceremonial swords and weapons, while the shroud of Turin is kept in the adjoining cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. On the edge of the city, the Reggia di Venaria, which was transformed into a barracks during Bonaparte’s conquest of Italy, has been entirely renovated, narrowly escaping ruin.
