Turin is widely known for its royal history, many museums, and classic cuisine. But the city’s roots stretch right back to antiquity. This was once an important Roman colony and, while modern-day Turin thrives as a hub of culture and innovation, the past remains imprinted on its streets and buildings. For those who know where to look, there is plenty to discover of Roman Turin.
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The Romans In Turin
The Roman presence in Turin dates back to the 1st century BCE when they established Augusta Taurinorum as a military and administrative settlement. Strategically located in northern Italy, near the Po River, it played a key role in controlling trade and military movements in the Roman Empire.
Augusta Taurinorum was a fortified, grid-based town positioned at the crossroads between Italy and Gaul. The colony followed the typical Roman urban design, with a symmetrical layout and a structured plan that divided the city into rectangular blocks. The settlement was enclosed within strong city walls, and four main gates granted access. Over time, the city flourished, and acquired grand civic structures such as the Roman Theatre.
The Quadrilatero Romano
Turin’s Roman foundations are still visible today, forming an essential part of the city’s architectural heritage. Unlike some other Roman cities that have been completely rebuilt over time, Turin has retained elements of its ancient layout, particularly within the Quadrilatero Romano, the central district that preserves the distinctive grid plan of Roman times.
Today’s visitors can walk through streets that follow the ancient layout, and discover Roman artefacts embedded within the cityscape. It is a bit like stepping back in time, uncovering layers of history hidden beneath the modern streets and buildings.
Palatine Gate And Archaeological Area
Arguably the most impressive ancient structure in Turin, the Porta Palatina is a rare example of a fully preserved Roman city gate. This grand monument, constructed in red brick, was originally part of the city defences of Augusta Taurinorum. The Palatine Gate features two towering flanking structures, accompanied by smaller defensive elements that once helped protect the entrance.
A long stretch of ancient Roman road leads up to the gate. Alongside the road a small archaeological park contains sections of the original city walls and various masonry fragments from the Roman era.
Theatre Of Augusta Taurinorum
Together with the Palatine Gate, the Roman theatre is regarded as the most important site of Roman Turin. At one time the city’s main entertainment venue, it was at the centre of civic life, hosting performances, civic events, and public gatherings.
Although much of the original building is buried beneath the modern city, excavations have uncovered portions of the stage, seating areas, and other architectural details. It is possible to see the Theatre of Augusta Taurinorum from the road but to walk around and look at the information boards you need to approach via the Museum of Antiquities (part of the Royal Museums of Turin in the Palazzo Reale).
Palazzo Madama
The Palazzo Madama is a Savoy palace built on Roman foundations and incorporating the medieval Castello. It is primarily visited for the building itself, and for its museum and art gallery, but bits of the Roman origins are also visible. As you enter you come to a room built above the Roman ruins: you can look through the floor to see the base of towers that once flanked the ancient Porta Decumana, a fragment of Roman road, and remains of houses.
Two of the building’s towers are based around original Roman structures, while the other two are medieval, their design a copy of the earlier ones. Some of the original stonework is visible in one of the Roman towers.
Other Roman Remains In Turin
Further remnants of Turin’s Roman history are scattered throughout the city centre. Keen-eyed explorers might spot a solitary Roman column embedded within a wall on the Via delle Orfane, or a carved bas-relief on a corner of the bell tower of the Church of San Andrea.
The Museo Diocesano di Torino in the Lower Church of Turin Cathedral is mostly about the Turin Shroud, but it is also interesting for the fragments of some earlier churches on the site, including some Roman remains. And the Museum of Antiquities holds many Roman artefacts, including two mosaic floors that were recovered from local villas.
Visiting Roman Turin
- The Palatine Gate, Roman road, and archaeological area are free to visit.
- There is an entrance charge for the Royal Museums of Turin (in the Royal Palace) and the Palazzo Madama. A Royal Pass (valid for four days) gives entrance to both sites and to other Savoy residences in Turin and Piedmont.
- Note that the Royal Museums of Turin are closed on a Monday and the Palazzo Madama is closed on Tuesdays.
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Turin.
