A Jacobite Gazetteer - Turin

Set at the foot of the monument to King Victor is the tomb of his wife Queen Maria Theresa, a white marble urn with a crown on top. On the front of the urn between two Ionic pilasters is a Latin inscription:

Tombs of King Victor and Queen Maria Theresa

Immediately to the left of the tombs of King Victor and Queen Maria Theresa is a monument to King Charles IV (whose tomb is in the Chiesa di Sant' Andrea al Quirinale in Rome). It consists of a white marble panel set in a gold and black frame. Above a Latin inscription is a crown with a sceptre and sword, all set amidst thorn branches. The monument was erected sometime between 1878 and 1900 by King Umberto I of Italy; the Latin inscription reads:

Opposite the monument to King Victor on the left side of the nave is the tomb of his father, King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia. At the centre is a Latin inscription:

Tomb of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia, father of King Charles IV and King Victor

Set at the foot of the monument to King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia is the tomb of his wife, Queen Maria Antonia Ferdinanda. On the front there is a Latin inscription:

Tomb of Queen Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Sardinia, mother of King Charles IV and King Victor

To the right of the tombs of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and Queen Maria Antonia Ferdinanda is a monument to their son, the younger brother of King Charles IV and King Victor, King Charles Felix of Sardinia and his wife Queen Maria Christina; their mortal remains are buried at the Abbey of Hautecombe, now in France. There is a Latin inscription:

Monument to King Charles Felix of Sardinia, brother of King Charles IV and King Victor, and to his wife Queen Maria Christina

In the centre of the nave stands a monument which now serves as the tomb of King Charles Albert of Sardinia. It was originally the tomb of King Charles Emanuel III of Sardinia, son of Anne Marie d'Orl&eacte;ans. When his son, King Victor Amadeus III, died in 1796, his mortal remains were placed in the monument and those of his father were moved to the right transept. When King Victor died in 1824, his mortal remains were placed in the monument and those of his father were moved to the left wall of the nave. At that time a Latin inscription was placed on the monument (it has since been removed):

When King Charles Albert of Sardinia died in 1849, his mortal remains were placed in the monument in the centre of the nave and those of King Victor were moved to the right wall of the nave.

Nave of the crypt

The tour continues in the left transept of the crypt. At the far end is the tomb of King Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia, husband of Anne Marie d'Orléans. To the right of the tomb of King Victor Amadeus II, at ground level, is the tomb of his wife Anne Marie d'Orléans.

Tomb of Anne Marie d'Orléans, granddaughter of King Charles I

To the left of the tomb of King Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia is a room with the tombs of many members of the House of Savoy who died in childhood. Here is the tomb of the second daughter of King Victor, Princess Marie Adelaide of Savoy (1794-1795). It bears the following Latin inscription:¹

Also in the children's room are the tombs of four siblings of King Charles IV and King Victor - Amedeo, Duke of Montferrat; Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy; Princess Maria Elisabetta of Savoy; and Maria Anna, Duchess of Chablais - as well as their great-grandparents - King Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia and his wife Anne-Marie d'Orléans (granddaughter of King Charles I).²

The tour returns through the central nave and passes into right transept. At the far end is the tomb of the grandfather of King Charles IV and King Victor - King Charles Emanuel III of Sardinia. The tomb was designed by Simone Duguet and completed in 1786 with statues sculpted by Ignazio and Filippo Collino.³ Above the sarcophagus is an oval bas-relief portrait of Charles-Emanuel held by the male allegorical figure of "Military Genius" with wings and a helmet. At the left is seated the female allegorical figure "Prudence". At the right is seated the male allegorical figure "Valour".

Tomb of King Charles Emanuel III of Sardinia, grandfather of King Charles IV and King Victor

To the left of the tomb of King Charles Emanuel III of Sardinia are the tombs of his three wives. At the top is the tomb of his first wife, Anne Christine Luise, Countess Palatine of Sulzbach (with a prince's crown since she died before her husband became king). At the bottom is the tomb of his third wife, Polyxena Christina of Hesse-Rotenburg-Rheinfels, grandmother of King Charles IV and King Victor.

Tombs of the wives of King Charles Emanuel III of Sardinia

As the tour leaves the crypt and climbs the stairs back to the cloister, one can see a bust and memorial to King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia.

Bust and memorial to King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia

The tour continues in the royal apartment which was used by the Royal Family when they visited the basilica. The main entrance to the apartment (not used by the tour) is a grand staircase with the busts of four Savoys. On the left is a bust of King Victor.

Bust of King Victor

Twenty minute guided tours of the royal tombs take place from late March to late September, from 9.30 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 6.15 p.m.; late September to late March, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Closed Fridays, January 1, Easter, June 16 to 30, September 8, and Christmas.

The basilica is located in the Parco Naturale di Superga in the hills to the north-east of the city centre. Take tram 15 to Stazione Sassi, and then bus 79 to Piazza Basilica di Superga.

This page is maintained by Noel S. McFerran (noel.mcferran@rogers.com) and was last updated October 9, 2017.
© Noel S. McFerran 2003-2017.