Founded in 1568 as the Collegio dei Nobili the Liceo classico Cavour stands before you. Imagine a time when Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy moved his capital from Chambéry to Turin. He established this college for nobles. For centuries it was the most prestigious high school in the Duchy of Savoy and later the Kingdom of Sardinia. The Jesuits ran the school for a significant portion of its history.
The Liceo classico Cavour’s story is one of evolution and adaptation. It changed location in 1787 moving from its original palace to the palace of the Convento del Carmine. It became a Lycèe under Napoleon’s rule. After Napoleon’s fall King Victor Emmanuel I restored it as the Reale Collegio Maggiore. The school came under state control in 1848 after the First Italian War of Independence. This marked a pivotal moment signifying the shift from religious to state-sponsored education.
In 1859 the school became a Liceo classico. Courses began in 1860-1861. The school was finally named after Camillo Benso conte di Cavour in 1865. During those years 1861-1865 it was the leading high school in the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. A Liceo Moderno was added from 1911 to 1923 reflecting educational reforms of the time. Then in 1931 due to the rising number of students the school moved to its present location on Corso Tassoni 15.
The curriculum started with a focus on rhetoric and Latin. Since 1848 the emphasis has been on classical studies primarily Latin and Ancient Greek. The school still emphasizes these subjects while also incorporating sciences. The Liceo Cavour has maintained its reputation for high-quality education. In a 2009 research study by the Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli it ranked first. Its student body grew from about 350 in the 1870s to approximately 930-950 today. Almost all its graduates go on to university. The TV series Fuori classe was partially filmed here in 2009-2010.
Among its many distinguished alumni is Luigi Einaudi the second President of the Italian Republic. Other notable alumni include the mathematician Giuseppe Peano Archbishop Agostino Richelmy the poet Guido Gozzano Cesare Pavese Ludovico Geymonat Franco Venturi Raf Vallone and Olympic champion Livio Berruti. The Liceo classico Cavour’s legacy extends far beyond its walls influencing generations of Italian leaders thinkers and artists. It continues to shape young minds in Turin and beyond.