Deeply rooted in Turin’s history stands the impressive Arma dei Carabinieri Sculpture. It honors the Carabinieri’s service to Italy. This national monument reminds us of their courage and dedication.
The monument’s story began in the early 1920s. Maria Letizia Bonaparte wanted to honor the Carabinieri. She specifically wanted to remember those who died in World War I. She asked the “Istituto nazionale per le biblioteche dei soldati” to take action. With the help of the Carabinieri Command, she launched a public fundraising campaign.
The campaign exceeded its goal. The extra funds established the “Fondazione del Monumento al Carabiniere”. This foundation gave annual awards to deserving Carabinieri. It existed until a 1979 decree dissolved it.
Edoardo Rubino, a Turin sculptor, designed and created the monument. The Arma dei Carabinieri Sculpture was made between 1925 and 1933. It features three major structures. A 25-meter podium displays bronze reliefs. These reliefs depict the Carabinieri’s duties and historical events. Scenes include guarding colonies and disaster relief after earthquakes and floods. They also show fighting banditry and defending legal institutions. Notable episodes include Giovanni Battista Scapaccino’s gold medal action and the Charge of Pastrengo. The reliefs also commemorate World War I participation.
Above the podium is a bronze statue of a Carabiniere. At the top, a bronze sculpture group symbolizes the oath of the Corps. King Vittorio Emanuele III inaugurated the monument on October 22, 1933. Many civil and military authorities attended. Representatives from combatant and armed associations were present. The Associazione nazionale carabinieri organized a national rally in Turin for the occasion.
World War II caused damage to the Arma dei Carabinieri Sculpture. An air raid on August 12, 1943, severely damaged it. After the war, Rubino himself oversaw the repairs. He replaced the Statuto Albertino and Fascio Littorio with the Italian Republic’s Constitution. Luigi Einaudi, the President, rededicated the monument on September 15, 1948.
The Arma dei Carabinieri Sculpture has a list of Carabinieri awarded the gold medal on its back. The monument stands in the Royal Gardens of Turin. It is located where Viale I Maggio and Viale dei Partigiani meet.
The monument rests on a platform reached by curved steps. Descending from Piazza Castello along Viale 1 Maggio, you can see it well. Rubino integrated the horizontal base and the vertical pedestal. The Carabiniere statue stands out against this background.
The base features bronze reliefs of the Carabinieri’s activities. The left frieze shows civil duties like fighting banditry and aiding disaster victims. The right frieze depicts military actions. These include fighting cattle rustling and the heroism of Scapaccino. It also shows the charge of Pastrengo and trench warfare in World War I.
The bronze Carabiniere statue stands in a resting pose. It measures 3.5 meters high. The statue stands between two fluted semi-columns. Above, the oath-taking sculpture includes seven figures. The female statue of Italy stands at the center. Six men with swords and shields surround her. A soldier kneels before Italy. Originally, Italy held a Fascist symbol topped with the Savoy crown.
Today, the Arma dei Carabinieri Sculpture remains a powerful symbol. It embodies the Carabinieri’s unwavering commitment to Italy. It shows their service and sacrifice. The monument serves as a reminder of their dedication. Its presence in the Royal Gardens is a point of pride for Turin.