 This
is one of the busiest squares in Turin. It is very lovely as the
end of the tree lined Via Pietro Micca opens out into the Piazza
Solferino. Nineteenth century buildings including the Palazzo Ceriana
surround it.
The Palazzo Ceriana was built in 1878. Carlo Ceppi designed it
for the Ceriana family. They were a family of bankers and spinning
mill owners. He was related to the family. It has a beautiful Neo
Baroque façade.
 The
Teatro Alfieri is situated in this square. The original façade
of the Theatre Alfieri remains as it was in 1857. Giovanni Svanascini
designed it as per the orders of Zaccaria Ottolenghi. However the
interiors have been modernized. It is a classic on the Turin landscape
and has hosted innumerable shows, plays, poets and prima donnas.
 The
center of the square is the Fontana Angelica- the Angelica Fountain.
Angelica was the name of the sponsor’s mother hence the fountain
is called Angelica Fountain. It is also called the Four Seasons
Fountain. The famous sculptor Giovanni Riva designed it in 1930
symbolizing the four seasons. There are four statues depicting the
four seasons- Spring and Summer-which are female and Autumn and
Winter which are male. The statues representing Autumn and Winter
which although are opposite each other face the other direction.
 This
oddness has been given esoteric meaning by the Turinese. Some people
believe that they secretly represent the Pillars of Hercules and
The Cave of Light, which hold mystical meaning for those who believe
in the occult.
Many popular bars including the Norman and restaurants are a part
of the attractions of this piazza.
From January 2004 Piazza Solferino has been the home of the Atrium
- the communications and exhibition center. The Atrium was built
as an entranceway to the new Torino. The Atrium is open from 10
a.m. to midnight during the Winter Olympic Games. It has a Winter
Olympic games box office, tourist welcome point, train ticket counter
and many restaurants.  The
two crystal halls of the Atrium are illuminated in the evening by
the changing colourful reflections of the Gioia Luminosa an installation
work by the young Turin born artist Richi Ferrero. The winter Olympics
2006 has transformed the Piazza Solferino. The sponsors have made
the Piazza Solferino a center of sports, music, games, shows and
meetings with the Olympic champions. The sponsor village will also
feature ice- skating and curling rinks.
Piazza Solferino is the square, where everyone should be especially
during the Winter Olympics. But don’t worry if you miss the
Olympics since this piazza has a lot to offer even after the Winter
Games. |
