When people think of the capital of Italy, their minds often go straight to Rome. However, the Eternal City was actually the third capital of the unified country. The first capital of Italy, located further north, was Turin—historically significant as the seat of power for the Savoy dynasty and an ancient centre of the Kingdom of Sardinia. In this article, we’ll explore why Turin held this prestigious role and the reasons behind the eventual relocation of the capital to Rome.

The choice of Turin as the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy was not random; it resulted from a series of historical, political, and strategic factors. Before unification, Turin was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, one of the most influential pre-unification states on the European political scene.