Piazza Carlina (piazza Carlo Emanuele II)

It was realized during the period of the regency of Maria Giovanna Battista di Savoia-Nemours (1675-1684).
The previous project was made, in 1674, by Amedeo di Castellamonte for the will of Carlo Emanuele II who, adhering to the model of the place royale, wanted, in order to celebrate his sovereign state, a wide square, with uniformed façades and in the centre a fountain with an equestrian statue portraying him.

Piazza Carlina (piazza Carlo Emanuele II)

The foreseen "octangular" square overlooking the eight blocks for noble palaces was not realized though, both for the sudden death of the promoting duke and for the difficult selling of the trapezoidal lands which did not make easy the projecting of the buildings.

From a square symbol of the ducal power, it was reduced to a square area destined, from an edict of 1678, to the seat of the wine market.
Even the position was modified many times and the square was placed in a more south-eastern position from the initial plan which placed it near to via Po.

In the south side the church of Santa Croce stands, built on a drawing by Juvarra (1718-1730), with the oriental bell tower and the late 19th century façade.

In the centre, the Cavour statue, work of art by Giovanni Duprè (1872).