MONCALIERI

Coordinates:45°0 ′ N 07°41 ′ E / 45.000°N 7.683°E / 45.000;   7.683Coordinates :45°0 ′ N 07°41 ′ E / 45.000°N 7.683°E / 45.000;   7.683
Country  Italy
Region   Piedmont
Metropolitan  city   Turin (TO)
Frazioni  Barauda, Boccia d'Oro, Borgata Palera, Borgata Santa Maria, Borgo Aje,   Borgo Mercato, Borgo Navile, Borgo San Pietro, Borgo Vittoria, La Gorra, La   Rotta, Moriondo, Revigliasco, Rossi, San Bartolomeo, Sanda-Vadò, Tagliaferro,   Testona, Tetti Piatti, Tetti Rolle, Tetti Sapini, Zona Carpice, Zona Nasi

Moncalieri, a city in Piedmont close to Turin in northwestern Italy, has a history of almost two thousand years. Romans, Longobards and Franks had passed through the primitive settlement of Testona. From the beginning of the XIIIcentury , the conflicts between the neighbouring settlements of Asti and Chieri for possession of trade and markets determined the development of the fortified settlements on the slopes of the hill.

These settlements became a barricade in the bend of the Po River. The permission to cross the bridge was handled by the Templars.

In the scheme of the incessant manoeuvres for supremacy between the Papacy and the Empire, the noble Houses of Savoy, first ducal then royal, came to the forefront. The Castle was built in defense of the crossroads, the port on the river, the bridge heading toward Turin and the rich trading and agricultural community. The building was little by little transformed into a big residence in the style of the castles of the other European ruling royalty. It was the summer residence of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy.

The historical events, the architectural heritage, the position of the landscape, the hill with its abundant noble villas and gardens of particular beauty, the proximity to Turin - the first capital of Italy- have made Moncalieri one of the most beautiful places in the outskirts of Turin. The Castle, together with other buildings and estates in Piedmont, was included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage of Humanity Sites as " Residenze Sabaude".

The historical center - dominated by the magnitude of the Sabaudo Castle- is situated on the spur ofTurin's hill; the Po River bathes the feet of the hill.

Moncalieri is a necessary passing point: important passing points converge exactly here, pressed between the river and the hill. The control of the road and river traffic was secured from the times when the Templars safeguarded the bridge over the Po, and that is the exact reason of the founding of the city.

Strolling in the historical city center you can see the imposing Royal Castle and theVittorio Emanuele II Square, on which the Gothic Church of St. Maria della Scala faces. This church preserves the relics of the patron saint, Blessed Bernard from Baden Baden, Germany .

The Townhall and the beautiful buildings that belonged to the most important medieval families also face on Vittorio Emanuele II Square. Carlo Alberto Street, at the bottom of the square is majestically closed by the Neoclassical facade of the Royal College; the institution had been inaugurated by King Carlo Alberto in 1838 and was destined for the formaleducation of the young offspring of the nobility.

You can stroll along all the oldest streets of the ancient city center, appreciating the elegant facades of the aristocratic buildings, churches, convents, courtyards, narrow alleyways and porticoes discovering proof that goes from Gothic to Renaissance and to the Baroque architectural periods.

The scenic routes on the hill, reaching all the way to the location of Revigliasco and Colle della Maddalena, reveal glimpses of innumerable landscapes all along the hills and along the entire chain of the Alpine peaks. In 2016 the entire area called Collina Po obtained the Riserva della Biosfera(MAB UNESCO)

Acknowledgement.
Since the second half of the 1800s, the territory of the town's jurisdiction was involved in the industrial development of the province of Turin and shared its destiny.
Industry, primarily tied to mechanics, also qualified itself in the field of research, from prototyping of motor vehicles to industrial design.
Various traditional specialization in horticulture and floriculture have also been preserved. Today Moncalieri, with its 60000 inhabitants, is the biggest town in the outskirts of Turin and the fifth biggest town in Piedmont. It is a growing cultural and tourist destination, also thanks to the civic library; that is a propelling force in culture, art, and is easily accessible and technological innovation; it is among the most important in the metropolitan area of Turin.

The castle is one of the Savoy Residences listed as a World Heritage Site. It hosts since 1919 a prestigious carabinieri school.  
Close to the castle, the descending square of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II was in the past the major centre for the Moncalieri activities. Its cobbled pavement was built back in 1825, and a sculpture-fountain of Neptune (Il Saturnio) can be found in the top part of it.
For aesthetic as well as practical reasons, the Neptune fountain was several times moved back and forth.
A small passage connects this square to the prestigious Real Collegio Carlo Alberto, school aimed for aristocratic descendants.
Nowadays, the Collegio Carlo Alberto is managed by a joint initiative of the Compagnia di San Paolo and the University of Turin; their mission is to foster research and teaching in law, economics, finance and political science.  
The Gothic church of Santa Maria della Scala houses the remains of the local patron. Other churches of interest are the later San Francesco, Sant'Egidio and the Chiesa del Gesù.  
Moncalieri is devoted to Beato Bernardo: around the day dedicated to him (July 15), a historical reconstruction of his arrival in Moncalieri from Baden-Baden in 1458 is held.