The Royal Library of Turin is one of the most important cultural institutions in the city, conserving over 200,000 books, ancient documents, engravings and drawings, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Self Portrait.
In 1831, Charles Albert of Sardinia decided to expand the court library with both his personal collection and books acquired from antiques dealers across Europe. In 1839 he bought a collection of drawings by great masters between 1400s-1700s, including works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci, from Giovanni Volpato. The Library owns 13 signed papers and the Codex on the Flight of Birds by Leonardo.
A rapid growth in volume soon made the original setting on the first floor of the Royal Palace insufficient. The Royal Library’s new location, on the ground floor of the western wing of the Royal Palace, was designed by court architect Pelagio Palagi, who was also responsible for its furnishings and shelving, and inaugurated in 1842.
The Royal Library was originally intended to serve the Court, officers and those researching history of art and the country. Following WWII, when the Royal Library passed to the Italian State with all the possessions of the Savoy Dynasty, it become a public library and was annexed to the Royal Museums of Turin in 2016.
Film Commission Torino Piemonte
Via Cagliari 42 — 10153 Torino
Phone: +39 011 2379201
Fax: +39 011 2379298
Email: info@fctp.it
