The keys to the City in the masterpieces of Palazzo Madama

Palazzo Madama new exhibition project

Palazzo Madama - Museo Civico d'Arte Antica offers an unprecedented look at its civic collections and their history. Through a selection of emblematic works, the visitor will journey from La porta della Città in the Medieval Court to Le chiavi della Città in the Sala del Senato: real and allegorical keys, which allow you to open the door of Turin and then reveal its soul through what has been decided to preserve over time, since the works are not only to be seen, but also look.

“A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.

This is the museum definition by the Extraordinary General Assembly of ICOM - International Council of Museums,approved in Prague on 4 August 2022

Palazzo Madama is giving a concrete application to this definition through its activities in the Medieval Court and on the noble floor. The museum is developing active citizenship program that began in 2022 and continues with exhibition projects and meetings to restore connections with the contemporary Turin, as well as seeing the genesis of a precise exhibition project in the Sala Senato.

The Civic Museum of Turin was born on 4 June 1863 and since 1878 it has been given a precise task: to bear witness to the history of the city of Turin and its evolution over the millennia through a path inevitably woven into the great history of artistic craftsmanship, the one that gives life to the so-called applied arts.

If the path can only begin from the symbolic element of this passage – the keys and bat of the City of Turin – from here it proceeds telling a story that weaves paradigmatic masterpieces and works which, despite being of absolute importance, has been little perceived in their exceptionality.

A journey unraveled from the keywords of the definition of ICOM Museum.