A visit to the Madama Palace is a way of travelling through time: from its Roman foundations to the medieval towers and on to the sumptuous baroque of the staircase by Juvarra.
The palazzo has its origins in a Roman castrum (military defence complex), but the name of the building refers to the Madame Royale title for both Marie-Christine of France and Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours who were the driving force behind the modernisation project that culminated in the construction of the grand staircase and the elegant facade by Filippo Juvarra.
In the 19th century, Court life was replaced by politics: Charles Albert based the first Royal Senate here and it was from here that the birth of the Kingdom of Italy was declared. Since 1934 it has been the Municipal Museum of Ancient Art.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, online or telephone booking is recommended, but it is not mandatory. It is also possible to book with the Torino + Piemonte card
Design
On display in the Galleria Sabauda at Palazzo Madama is the collection of ceramics from the Turin-based manufacturer Lenci, donated by collectors Giuseppe and Gabriella Ferrero. In dialogue with the modern art in the room, the collection includes 132 works by 17 artists, such as Mario Sturani, Giovanni Grande, Gigi Chessa, Sandro Vacchetti, Giuseppe Porcheddu, and Elena König Scavini.
The historic doll company began producing artistic ceramics in the late 1920s, blending elegance, creativity, and high-quality craftsmanship. The pieces often feature stylized female figures, depictions of children, allegorical or mythological characters, and animals. While primarily inspired by Art Deco, the style also incorporates elements of realism and surrealism, mixed with a touch of irony and sensuality.