Cityscape of Turin. Turin, Italy. (Photo Credit: Alessandro Vecchi)
A journey to Turin is not one soon forgotten. Oh no! Turin’s mysterious black and white magic grabs you around the ankles and begs you to stay just a little longer. And that is just what most travelers do. Stay just a little longer.
“But why?” You might ask.
Well, it’s most probably since the magic of Turin has really gotten to their heads.
Frowning?
“Ok ok. Don’t frown. Ill explain . . . ”
I’ll start off with telling you about several mysterious and mostly unsolved stories. Stories so old and mysterious, they’ll have your toes curl in delight.
Back in the day, in-and-around the 1500’s, the Savoy family (very influential in those times), requested some alchemists, scientists, philosophers and magicians do alchemical experiments within the Three Alchemical Caves of Turin. (These caves are said to be underground, somewhere around the Piazza Castello and Pallazo Madame area.) (What is interesting was that these ‘scientists’ were also looking for the Philosopher's Stone; said to be hidden within one of the caves.)
Alchemists in search of the Philosopher Stone. (Photo Credit: Joseph Wright of Derby)
After wandering about in the caves and uncovering their mysteries, these scientists disclosed the secrets they found, (as well as the location of the cave entrances), to Maria Christina Savoy (wife of Vittorio Savoy.) No one knows why, but it is said she then built the Palazzo Madame strictly according to the advice and guidance given to her by the chief alchemist, after he ‘uncovered the secrets.’ (We should mention here that the Philosophers Stone was not found, its existence still a mystery in itself.)
What these secrets were that the chief alchemist shared with Maria C. Savoy, we are not sure. But they are magical.
Maybe, just maybe, the alchemist revealed to her these curious caves were in fact the boiling pot of good and evil. The so-called meeting point of black and white energies. The place of war where good and evil compete for supremacy. Or maybe, the point where man will find the secrets to all that is or ever was?
Who knows?
Façade of Palazzo Madama. (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
How to visit the Three Caves of Turin
“Wow! I would love to visit these caves. Maybe I can uncover the secret to why they were regarded so magical and powerful,” I thought aloud.
Well now. That is just the thing . . .
No one (or probably few select people) know today if these caves ever existed or where the entrances are; therefore is there no way to visit the ‘Three Alchemical Caves of Turin.’
“What! But did these caves then really exist?”
Many deny they did; regarding the stories just legend and folklore.
But we can’t help but wonder. Especially after something strange happened not so far back in the past. A cover-up maybe?
In preparation for the 2006 Olympics, several excavations were done at the Gardens of Palazzo Reale, very close to The Fountain of Nymphs & Tritons. It was then that was discovered underground walls with very strange markings on them. (It is now regarded that this might be the location of the first alchemical cave of Turin.)
But what is even stranger is that all off a sudden funds ‘dried-up,’ and excavation was seized. This area is now off limits and closed to the public. If this could be the discovery of the new millennium, why not ensure it gets excavated?
That is something I would like to know as well . . . And yet another secret to uncover.
Palazzo Reale di Torino. Turin, Italy. (Photo Credit: Fredericks )
Back to Turin’s Magic
You might wonder by now, what the Three Chemical Caves of Turin have to do with anything?
Hold your horses. We are getting to that.
Yet another story takes us back even further than the 1500’s. This time we are going back thousands of years to a legend that states Turin was founded by Phaeton, the son of the goddess Isis. He developed the city in honor of the Apis cult, which has the bull as its idol. Funnily enough, is this very bull today the symbol of Turin.
If you are rather skeptical of this myth, then maybe the next might be more believable.
Let's go back 2000 years to the founding stages of Augusta Taurinorum (Turin). It is said the ancient city was founded by the Romans at this point in time, on the spot where the Dora and Po rivers meet.
The significance of these two rivers meeting at this exact point, is very predominant in the legend, which states it is this that causes a certain energy to come from the water. The two rivers is said to form a “Y” shape (symbolizing the duality of man and his interconnection with good and evil. Man is then left with a choice where two life paths become available at the so called, ‘fork in the road’).
But this is not all. The legend even goes further to state that Turin’s magic derives from two symbolic shapes in the form of triangles, giving Turin it’s magic.
The first comprises a triangle of black magic formed by Turin, London & San Francisco, and the second, a triangle of white magic formed by Turin, Lyon and Prague.
Due to Turin said to sit at the center of black and white magic in the world, strange and fascinating secrets, legends and myths has surfaces throughout the years. The occult of Isis replaced by Catholic religion, being one of the secrets many don’t know about.
Where today stands the Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio Church (The Church of the Great Mother of God), was once the location of a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. The title of “Great Mother of God,” is then also said to actually refer to her.
When one walks towards the entrance of the church, will you notice two statues on either side of the steps. These statutes represent Religion and Faith, and it is the Faith figure that most travelers tend to inspect very closely. Within the hands of the figure will you notice a chalice, which many believe is representative of the Holy Grail. This artifact is said to be buried nearby. We although recommend not to start digging. It might result in you spending the night in jail.
But this is not all. The legend even goes further to state that Turin’s magic derives from two symbolic shapes in the form of triangles, giving Turin it’s magic.
The first comprises a triangle of black magic formed by Turin, London & San Francisco, and the second, a triangle of white magic formed by Turin, Lyon and Prague.
Due to Turin said to sit at the center of black and white magic in the world, strange and fascinating secrets, legends and myths has surfaces throughout the years. The occult of Isis replaced by Catholic religion, being one of the secrets many don’t know about.
Where today stands the Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio Church (The Church of the Great Mother of God), was once the location of a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. The title of “Great Mother of God,” is then also said to actually refer to her.
When one walks towards the entrance of the church, will you notice two statues on either side of the steps. These statutes represent Religion and Faith, and it is the Faith figure that most travelers tend to inspect very closely. Within the hands of the figure will you notice a chalice, which many believe is representative of the Holy Grail. This artifact is said to be buried nearby. We although recommend not to start digging. It might result in you spending the night in jail.
The next stop on our journey is a walk onto the square of the Piazza Statuto, right into the heart of evil. Oh yes, it doesn’t look like it today, but back in the day was performed here various executions, and should you be interested in visiting the Underworld, this is the place to find the entrance to it. (The Piazza is said to be a point on the Black Magic Triangle.)
Various other symbols are found within the square, one being the Fontana del Fréjus, said to be dedicated to the inauguration of the Fréjus tunnel between Italy and France. There are Titans (white figures) and a winged figurine, speculated to be either an angel (symbolize Reason) or Lucifer, situated within the fountain. What is although questioned is whether or not the central figurine, symbolizes good or evil?
Example, should the angel be the predominant figure, then it would symbolize how Science and Reason can overcome the need for brute force. But, on the head of the ‘angel’ is an inverted pentagram, a symbol which most would associate with ‘calling something into question.’ In that case, the figurine could represent Lucifer.
What is truth? We are not sure. Let’s investigate further . . .
Once your exploration of evil is done might you want to balance it off with a visit to Piazza Castello and the Palazzo Madame (The White Heart of Turin), a point on the white magic triangle and where it is said the sacred and diabolical parts of the city meets. Two figures stand out here, the mythological twins, Castor and Pollux. They are regarded as the guardians of this invisible and sacred diabolical line of black and white magic. What stand out to me is the beauty of the artwork, and the expressions on their faces. It is as if they, and only they, know the secrets to Turin’s magic. In wonderment, I search further to uncover some more legends and secrets.
The five palaces built by the Savoy family further fascinate me. Were the royal family influenced so much by the findings of the alchemists that they decided to carefully plan the construction of each building they built? When one should link all the palaces on a map, a curious pentagon sign forms in perfect alignment. Coincidence?
Another curious fact is the connection of each palace to a natural element.
The Palace of Venaria represents Fire; the Basilica of Superga, Earth. Moncalieri Castle represents Iron; The Palace of Stupingi is Water, and last but not least, does Rivoli Castle represent Wind.
I investigate further, and come to learn that the Savoy family was actually well ahead of their time; viewed as to liberal. Is this the reason the secrets, myths and legends of Turin are kept under such tight wraps from the general public? What is it that we will find?
Investigating the Savoy family, I find they are actually one of the oldest royal families in the world, their history going back to the year, 1003.
A Short History of the House of Savoy
- 1003 – The House of Savoy is established.
- Post 1003 – They rule over a small county.
- 1416 – The Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund, declares Amadeus VIII Savoy, the Duke of Savoy.
- 1713 – The Savoy family expands their reign, and becomes so powerful by 1713, attaining the rank of the King of Sicily.
- 1861 – Another branch in the Savoy family, the House of Savoy-Carignano, unifies Italy. They rule over Italy as Kings from 1861 until 1946.
- 1870 – Papal temporal rule comes to an end when Italian troops enter Rome in 1870. This is also the year all the territories in Italy became a part of The Kingdom of Italy, as is representative of modern-day Italy.
- 1946 – Italy becomes a republic, and the monarchy is abolished.
Before the 1870’s, Italy as we know today, did not exist. It was only during the years 1848-1870, that various nationalists and those loyal to the House of Savoy, helped established a united kingdom to include all the territories under rule by a single king. The territories then became known as the Kingdom of Italy.
Noteworthy is the overrule of Rome (1870), the seat of Papal temporal rule for over a thousand years, by Italian troops, mostly under command by the King of Italy, who belonged to the Savoy family of course.
Many citizens were not happy with the overthrow of Rome, many of the Popes declaring themselves prisoners in the Vatican. Furthermore, an annoyance was stoked when the capital of the Kingdom of Italy was moved to Rome in 1871. Of course, the Catholic Church then denied the King of Italy (House of Savoy) to be the rightful ruler of their territory.
There was the general view that the Savoy families were too liberal in their views, especially since they allowed Jews and Waldesians freedom to practice their faith and desired to unite all the scattered territories throughout the Italian Peninsula, into a single, united kingdom. (A vision far ahead of its time in those days.)
It thus comes as no surprise that many began spreading rumors (especially the Vatican) such as, “the monarchs of Savoy are evil.” “The Savoys practice black magic.”
Turin was furthermore the birthplace for most of the Savoy family branches, the town equally acquitted the status of ‘a place of black and white magic.’
To put even more ‘wood on the fire,’ so to speak, the House of Savoy requested various alchemists, scientists and philosophers to visit Turin throughout the ages. The Savoy family was responsible for a variety of palaces, buildings and statues to be designed, most of them covered with ancient symbols, adding even more to the mystery of the place.
I can just imagine, that this was used against them by the Papal state as well.
In conclusion, we can finally say that Turin became regarded as a place of black and white magic due to a variety of factors, including human wars, monarchies rising and falling and human action, and not just those bequeathed to magic and folklore.
All in all, the research into the city's past is never ending; and in equal measure, our search continues.
Some Interesting Facts about Turin
- Turin was the very first capital to a newly born Italy. The honor then shifted to Florance, and finally, Rome.
- Turin is the birthplace of cars (Ford) and Italian television.
- If one should link the five palaces built by the Savoy family, interestingly enough would a pentagon be formed on a map. A further very interesting fact is that each palace represents a natural element.
- Piazza Castello is known for its positive energies, while Piazza Statuto is known for its evil energies.
- Turin is known for the place where the famous, “Shroud of Turin,” is kept in the Gran Madre.
- The Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio Church is believed to be abundant with positive energies.
- The 2nd most important Egyptian Museum outside of Egypt can be found in Turin, the Egyptian Museum of Turin, built in 1824. It is said the museum stores around 37,000 artifacts, but only 3,300 is on display.
- The Savoys were descendants of the Celts and Romans.
Tell Us More
Do you have any myths, legends or secrets about Turin’s Magic you would like to share with us? We would like to hear about them. Let us know in the comments below.
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