In the nineteenth century the aristocracy was in decline and sold their properties to the entrepreneurial bourgeoisie. The presence of numerous workers in local factories favoured the birth of the “Societies of Mutual Aid” ( Società di Mutuo Soccorso). In 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was born. The “Technical Institute“ Leggi tutto…
The Napoleonic occupation in Piedmont brings many changes to the administration including the abolition of convents which were bought and sold by the government. They became hospitals and barracks and some of the churches were demolished (Sant’Agostino, San Francesco and Sant’Andrea). In the monastery of Santa Clara the textile factory Leggi tutto…
For the entire eighteenth century Chieri was a large building site where some of the most important architects of the century worked. In 1726 Giovanni Antonio Sevalle worked on the female orphanage. In 1730 Filippo Juvarra worked on the churches of Sant’Andrea (no longer standing) and Sant’ Antonio Abate, later Leggi tutto…
Towards the end of the century, there was social unrest, influenced by the French revolution. On the 23rd July 1797, the “bread uprising”, which had spread to all of Piedmont, involved also Chieri. The repression by those in power culminated in the shooting of 36 people in Piazza d’Armi (Piazza Leggi tutto…
In the eighteenth century, the Chieri economy, inherently connected to textiles, survived, even by ignoring the new technology that, starting in England, spread throughout Europe. The building industry and town planning however were very active enterprises and had new clients: there were fewer initiative from the Royal Court but the Leggi tutto…
Guglielmo Caccia, called Moncalvo, was the most important painter of the seventeenth-century in Piedmont. He was greatly influenced by the artists of the XVI century. Moncalvo lived in Chieri from 1600 to 1610 where he produced some altar pieces and two wall paintings while at the same time he was Leggi tutto…
The first decades of the century in Chieri are dominated by the so called late-Manierism period of the painter Moncalvo and other painters of his school, such as Orsola Caccia, Giovanni Crosio, Francesco Fea and Cerutti-Fea brothers. Beginning in the 1930’s, the paintings that can be seen in the churches Leggi tutto…
In the second half of the century the economy in Chieri did not improve, partly as a consequence of the demographic collapse following the plague and also due to foreign competition. It resisted thanks to the protectionist measures confirmed by the ducal Government. In spite of these factors, Chieri experienced Leggi tutto…
Due to the protagonism of Duke Carlo Emanuele 1, the first half of the XVII century was a period of continuous military mobilizations and serious economic crises. Furthermore there was famine and plague.The latter arrived in Chieri at the end of June and it reached its maximum virulence between July Leggi tutto…
Chieri returned to Piedmont in 1562. Emanuele Filiberto reduced the medieval privileges and the jurisdiction of the town. In compensation however, his protectionist measures boosted textile manufacturing and the entire economy of Chieri. With a view to Emanuele Filiberto’s visit to Chieri in 1580. “L’Arco di Piazza” (the Arch of Leggi tutto…
