Turin - A Baroque haven

Turin is many things and one of them is a Baroque "haven" full of palaces, churches, squares, statues, facades and halls, all decorated in the Baroque style. Some of them illustrious and of great historical value. The Baroque style uses exaggerated motion and detail to produce drama and tension, as a movement it ran through sculpture, painting, architecture, literature and music, and reigned in europe for over 150 years.

Piazza Castello in the historical centre of Turin has many splendid examples of the Baroque style.
Palazzo Madama with its Baroque facade and a magnificent hall designed by Filippo Juvarra (1718-21). Palazzo Reale the official Royal residence of the reigning House of Savoy until 1865, inside you will find the Sala dei Forbici again by Juvarra. The chapel of the Holy Shroud a Baroque masterpiece by Guarino Guarini was originally built as part of the Palazzo Reale but now is accessible from the Cathedral entrance. Guarini also built the San Lorenzo church 1557, it is one of the most famous examples of european Baroque style.

Round windows, inspired by the dome of San Lorenzo Church

Palazzo Carignano which was the home of the first Italian parliment in 1861 when Torino was declared the first Capital of Italy has a swirling facade and majestic atrium designed by Guarini, both are beautiful examples of Baroque architecture.

Red brick patterns inspired by the facade of Palazzo Carignano

The aristocrasy also saw this elaborate and dramatic style as a way of impressing power and control. Baroque palaces were designed around an entrance of courts and with grand staircases and rich interiors. A wonderful example of Baroque opulence is La Venaria Reale, originally comissioned by Carlo Emanuele II as a "hunting palace" in 1660-75. Subsequently in 1716 extension work began and again Filippo Juvarra designed the Grand Sala. Today the Palace has been renovated and is a "must" for any visitor, with its Royal Gardens the whole complex is presented in a new "creative" light providing a cultural experience adding to its enormous historical value.

The Grand Gallery, La Veneria Reale

A pattern inspired by the flooring in the Grand Gallery

Using my patterns I have created a set of mugs to remind me of the lovely patterns found in and around Baroque Turin.

Link to Flickr "Turin Snapshots"
Starting on Monday, Module 3 of the Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design will be occupying all my time and I will go back to posting more of my pattern designs. When time allows I will pick up on the theme of Turin again, until them enjoy!