Casa Florio
An early masterpiece of Turinese Art Nouveau, this rental house commissioned by brothers Daniele and Sereno Florio exemplifies the modern design vocabulary that emerged from Turin’s 1902 Universal Exposition.
At a glance
Casa Florio stands as one of three residential buildings the Florio brothers commissioned from engineers Arnaldo Riccio and Giuseppe Velati-Bellini. Built in 1902, it occupies a prominent corner site between via San Francesco and via Bertola in central Turin. The house represents a direct translation of the innovative graphic and decorative principles unveiled at that year’s World’s Fair.
History
The Florio brothers, prominent Turinese patrons, initiated an ambitious building campaign around the turn of the twentieth century. They engaged two accomplished engineers—Riccio and Velati-Bellini—to design three speculative rental houses. Casa Florio, completed in 1902, coincided with Turin’s hosting of the Universal Exposition, an event that fundamentally reshaped Italian modern design and architecture.
What you see
The building exemplifies early Turinese Liberty (Italian Art Nouveau), drawing explicit inspiration from the exhibition’s displayed solutions. Ornamental detailing, proportional relationships, and decorative programs reflect the aesthetic innovations promoted at the 1902 fair. The facade integrates period-specific motifs typical of the Liberty movement’s application to urban residential architecture.
Cultural significance
Casa Florio documents a pivotal moment in Italian architectural modernism. As one of Turin’s earliest Liberty manifestations, it demonstrates how international exposition design principles were rapidly assimilated into local building practice. The house exemplifies the transition from nineteenth-century eclecticism toward twentieth-century modernist sensibility.
Key facts
- Address: Via Luigi Cibrario, 15, 10124 Torino
- Coordinates: 45.0777576, 7.6665544
- Year completed: 1902
- Architects/Engineers: Arnaldo Riccio and Giuseppe Velati-Bellini
- Commissioners: Daniele and Sereno Florio
- Phone: 0436 866222
- Website: http://www.museotorino.it/view/s/770552cd30f64e99a6821a33a084dea8
Practical information
Hours and admission details are available through the official website and phone contact listed above. Verify current visiting information before planning a visit.
Getting there
The building is located on via Luigi Cibrario in Turin’s city center, accessible by public transport. Check local transit maps for metro, tram, and bus routes serving this central neighborhood.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
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