The National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento in Turin tells the story of the movement that unified Italy in the nineteenth century. It occupies Palazzo Carignano, the Baroque palace designed by Guarino Guarini, whose rippling brick façade is a landmark in the city centre. Turin was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont and, briefly, the first capital of a united Italy, making it a fitting place to explore this complicated history.
Paintings, documents, uniforms, weapons and personal objects bring the era to life, from the ideas of Mazzini and the campaigns of Garibaldi to the political manoeuvres of Cavour. The highlight is the preserved Chamber of the Subalpine Parliament, where deputies met before and after unification. Seeing it inside the palace gives the exhibits a sense of place that a conventional history museum can struggle to match.
Allow around two hours to explore the collection, especially if you like to read the displays. Check current opening hours and ticket details before visiting, and consider an audio guide or translation app if you don't read Italian. The museum is an easy addition to a day in central Turin, within walking distance of Piazza Castello and the Egyptian Museum.