Cimitero Monumentale

The Cimitero Monumentale di Torino lies on Corso Novara in the north-east of Turin, Piedmont, Italy. It opened in 1829 under King Charles Felix after Napoleonic rules had moved burials outside city walls, and it was designed by the architect Gaetano Lombardi. The cemetery expanded repeatedly in the 19th century, and its extensions are still visible in the different architectural styles of the galleries and the sections.

The cemetery is known for its long colonnaded galleries, or porticoes, lined with funerary sculptures and chapels. Monuments range from neoclassical and Romantic works to Liberty-style and eclectic tombs in marble, bronze and stone. Many were carved by leading Piedmontese sculptors and show allegorical figures, mourners and portraits. The overall impression is of an open-air sculpture museum, reflecting how the bourgeoisie and nobility of Turin expressed status and grief.

Among the buried are figures from Piedmont's political and cultural history, including members of the Risorgimento generation, scientists, artists and industrialists. The Jewish, Waldensian and other confessional sections, and the Tempio Crematorio opened in the late 19th century, document the religious and civic diversity of the city. The cemetery also contains monuments to the victims of wars and to the fallen of the First World War.

The site is cared for by the municipality, and ongoing conservation addresses stone cleaning, surface losses and vegetation. It is free to enter and open daily with shorter hours in winter, so check comune.torino.it before visiting. Visitors are asked to behave respectfully, dress appropriately and avoid disturbing funerals. Guided themed tours are sometimes organised by cultural associations, and a map from the entrance helps navigation across the large grounds.