Museum of the Risorgimento (Turin)


The National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento is the first, the biggest and the most important among the 23 museums in Italy dedicated to the Risorgimento, the only one which can be considered "National" according to a 1901 law and due to its rich and great collections. It is housed in the Palazzo Carignano in Turin.

History

The museum was established in 1878, shortly after Italian unification, even though it only had its first permanent exhibition in 1908. Originally located in the Mole Antonelliana, in 1938 it was moved to its current site.

Displays

Its exhibits include weapons, flags, uniforms, printed and written documents, and artworks. The new exhibition, opened on March 18, 2011, occupies about 3500 square metres across 30 rooms, and covers the real Risorgimento period, stretching from the late 18th century revolutions to the beginning of the First World War. It includes a specialized library, a prints cabinet and a documentary archive.