Cavour memorial

Second floor

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Second floor

“Farming trials and business. A possible path” (M14)

The room focuses on the financial administration of the Benso’s agricultural assets. Documents and country scenarios are blended by a multimedia set-up picturing the innovations introduced by Cavour.

“Political commitment: a dream comes true” (M15)

The room’s historical narration is entirely entrusted to multimedia tools focusing on three pivotal moments of Cavour’s life which fuelled the statesman’s political success: Cavour the journalist; Cavour member of parliament; Cavour and the first war of independence.

“Modernizing to consolidate the State” (M16)

The modernization of the State introduced by Cavour as minister and prime minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia developed through three main moments illustrated on the walls: trade deals; infrastructure; the “connubio” (alliance) as a political turning point. The room is enhanced by the many national and international honors bestowed on the statesman.

“At the table of the great game: the Crimea gamble and the Congress of Paris” (M17)

Thanks to its multimedia equipment the room illustrates two important moments when Piedmont won a place as a leader in the history of Europe thanks to Cavour’s political intuition: the Crimean War and the Congress of Paris. Also on display in this small room is the prestigious collar of the Annunziata awarded to Cavour by Vittorio Emanuele II in 1856.

“Camillo Cavour architect of the Unification of Italy” (M18)

The gripping tale of Cavour’s epic evolves inside the “movie theater”, from the Plombièeres agreement to the second war of independence, the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy and his sudden death in Turin on 6 June 1861.

“Open issues” (M19)

A touch-screen allows visitors to go over the many unresolved issues which concerned Italy after the statesman’s premature death. An interactive map of Italy offers the possibility of reconstructing the first government and parliament of unified Italy.

“Cavour’s room” (M20)

Camillo Cavour’s biography comes to an end with a reconstruction of his apartment in Turin. This interior had already been rebuilt and located inside the Benso Tower in Santena by his niece Giuseppina for the 25th anniversary of the statesman’s death (1886), and is of great emotional impact thanks to its original furnishings: Camillo’s personal desk, the bed where he passed away, the mementos of his nephew Augusto, fallen in Goito in 1848.

“Epilogue” (M21)

Six videos recounting special aspects of Camillo Cavour’s life conclude the visit to the Memorial: monuments; the Cavour Canal; satire; historiography; the Foundation.