New Archaeological Area Opens in Turin with 17th-Century Fortifications

Turin has gained a new archaeological area thanks to the recovery of above-ground fortifications from the Cittadella, demolished in the late 19th century. The wall structures, part of the 17th-century defensive system, were discovered during excavations for an underground parking lot on Corso Galileo Ferraris, near the Museo Pietro Micca. The site, now managed by the museum, includes the Rivellino degli Invalidi with remnants of a powder magazine and a connecting gallery to the Cittadella, both dating to the 1680s. The gallery is the first large communication tunnel from that period to be recovered. Director Franco Cravarezza stated, "This is a heritage that joins the already extensive underground galleries and the exploded staircase of Pietro Micca, which this year marks 60 years." The new museum area complements the vast underground fortifications—about 20 km of tunnels—partially recovered in the early 1900s and from the late 1950s by the Museo Civico Pietro Micca and the Amici association. The city is also working on restoring the 16th-century portion of the Mastio della Cittadella and establishing a museum hub in collaboration with military institutions and study centers. The archaeological area is open to the public every Sunday from 3 to 6 PM with free guided tours.