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Best known as host of the 2006 Winter Olympics, the fascinating city of Turin, Italy borders the Alps and is a short train ride from Milan. Turin is also home to Fiat and more recently, The National Museum of Cinema which is an absolute must-see for any lover of the moving image. Less known - even to those native to Turin - is the Pietro Accorsi Foundation’s Museum of Decorative Arts. This marvelous museum is housed in a grand mansion on the via Po, Turin’s main shopping avenue. The via Po travels between two spacious arcades that allow the Savoyards to enjoy the fresh air without fear of wet weather. The entrance to the museum is through an airy courtyard surrounded by life-size statues of exotic animals and busts of nobles and artists.
Established by the antiques dealer Pietro Accorsi (Turin, 1891-1982), it opened on December 3, 1999. Accorsi started his career as a young boy going house to house to barter and to trade antiques from the noble families who remained in Turin from the days when it served as the seat of Savoy power. In time, his acquisitions rivaled those of the world’s great museums. In a surprising turn, the museum is housed in a residence where Accorsi’s father served as caretaker.
Visitors to the museum are guided through its twenty-seven rooms, each room restored to the decor of Accorsi's original residence. That original residence, across the river Po, has since been sold to a rival collector. Upon entering a room, lights turn on, fountains gurgle, and fireplaces flicker and crackle. The collection is a feast for the eyes, and the obligatory guide explains the pieces in meticulous detail, as nothing is marked to explain provenance. The giftshop sells a helpful book for further study. The collection features over 2000 pieces, including priceless Meissen porcelains, a vast array of snuff boxes, ornate furniture created for royalty and several wide collections of Savoy painting.
For more information on the foundation click here.