Palazzo Chiablese

The Palazzo Chiablese forms one wing of the Royal Palace in Turin and stands on Piazza San Giovanni. As a residence of the House of Savoy, it served various members of the family, including the Duke of Chablais, who gave the building its name, as well as King Charles Felix of Sardinia. The interior was designed under the direction of the architect Benedetto Alfieri. During the Napoleonic occupation, the palace temporarily housed the French provisional government and Pauline Bonaparte. It was later the birthplace of the future Queen Margherita. The building suffered heavy damage in World War II, after which it passed to the state in the 1950s and was used for various administrative purposes as well as for housing. Today the palace houses a cultural collection on the history of Piedmont and serves as the seat of the Directorate-General for Landscape, Fine Arts, Architecture, and Contemporary Art. Public access is limited, as the building is open for visits only on special occasions or by prior arrangement.