Palazzo Madama today is the seat of the Civic Museum of Ancient Art but this wonderful building built on the ruins of an ancient Roman gate has been a fortress, a castle (as evidenced by the rear façade with medieval towers) and residence of two "Royal Madames", Marie Christina of France and Joan of Savoy-Nemours, under whose regency the building was expanded and embellished .

In particular, in 1718 Filippo Juvarra, architect of the House of Savoy, designed and built the great western façade and the imposing grand staircase, an undisputed Baroque masterpiece.