The Cittadella, the Fortress of Turin

In the heart of the Piedmontese capital stands this stronghold that brought fame—amid tragedy—to Pietro Micca.

The Cittadella of Turin, pride and honor of the Duchy of Savoy, was a formidable pentagonal fortress with powerful bastions at each vertex. It was located along the city walls, specifically on the southwestern side of the historic center.

It was commissioned by Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy and built by the architect Francesco Paciotto between 1564 and 1577, under the supervision of General Nicolis di Robilant. With this ambitious project, the Duke aimed to modernize the city’s defenses after transferring the capital of the Duchy from Chambéry to Turin.

The original design was begun by the military engineer Francesco Horologi, but it was later revised and completed by architect and engineer Francesco Paciotto.

The foundation stone was laid in 1564, and the work—carried out by approximately two thousand men—was completed in 1570.

The fortress was surrounded by a large dry moat and equipped with a remarkable system of defensive structures. At its center stood the Cittadella’s Great Well, known as the Cisternone, built between 1565 and 1567 from a design by Paciotto. The well featured a double helical ramp, which proved particularly useful in the event of a siege, as it ensured a steady water supply.

A complex system of underground tunnels extended outward from the Cittadella into the surrounding countryside. These included high and low capital galleries, a master gallery, and various secondary tunnels that branched off into a network of passageways of different sizes.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, skilled workers and diggers were recruited to expand the network of underground passages. Among them emerged the figure of Pietro Micca, a native of Biella and a soldier-miner in the Savoyard army.

On the night between August 29 and 30, 1706, enemy troops infiltrated one of the tunnels and attempted to force their way through. At that moment, Pietro Micca detonated approximately twenty kilograms of gunpowder, sacrificing himself and causing the tunnel to collapse, effectively halting the enemy’s advance.

The Siege of Turin began on May 14 and ended on September 7, 1706. Around 45,000 French soldiers conducted a formidable encirclement of the Cittadella, which was defended by 10,500 Savoyard troops. This so-called “scientific siege” resonated widely with international public opinion at the time.

During the Napoleonic occupation of Turin (1800–1814), many of the Cittadella’s walls and bastions were demolished. The Mastio, a two-story gatehouse, is the only remaining structure of the once-imposing fortress. Today, it houses the National Historical Museum of Artillery, with its valuable collections of weapons, flags, and uniforms. In contrast, most of the underground tunnels have remained intact and can still be visited as part of the Pietro Micca Civic Museum and the Siege of Turin of 1706, founded by General and historian Guido Amoretti.

In front of the Mastio stands the monument to Pietro Micca. The bronze statue, mounted on a high pedestal, depicts him in a determined pose, wearing the uniform of an artilleryman and holding a lit fuse, ready to sacrifice his life to save Turin from the Franco-Spanish assault. The sculpture was created by Giuseppe Cassano in 1863 and placed in front of the Mastio in 1864.

On the site once occupied by the Cittadella now stands the Church of Saint Barbara, Virgin and Martyr.

Photo: The Cittadella of Turin today (from museotorino.it)