The construction of the Palazzo Carignano was ordered by
Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Carignano. The Prince commissioned architect
Guarino Guarini to design a suitable residence for his home and the
cadet house of the reigning
House of Savoy. Guarini designed the structure in the shape of a square, with a straight and restrained east façade and an elliptical façade on the west. Guarini also added a forecourt at the centre of the palace. Construction began in 1679, when the Prince was 51 years old. The decorations over the windows of the
piano nobile recall the campaign of the Carignano family with
Carignan-Salières Regiment against the
Iroquois in 1667. The interior has been described as lavish and has impressive frescoes and stucco decorations. Among the frescoes are some by
Stefano Legnani, called il
Legnanino. The main stairwell is decorated with busts by Pietro Somazzi. The building, constructed in brick in a typical
Baroque style, has an elliptical main façade. This façade represents the only example of civic architecture making use of the undulating 'concave – convex – concave' rhythm established by
Francesco Borromini in the church of
San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome. The palazzo was the birthplace of
Marie-Louise, princesse de Lamballe in 1749 – confidant of
Marie Antoinette and for whom she died in 1792.
Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Carignano was born there in 1770. It was also the birthplace of the first King of Italy,
Victor Emmanuel II in 1820. From 1848 to 1861, the palace was used as the
Chamber of Deputies of the
Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia. In 1861, with the creation of the parliament of the newly
unified Kingdom of Italy, the room was not large enough to host the
Chamber of Deputies, which was moved elsewhere. == See also ==