Palazzo Madama has two faces. From Piazza Castello, it’s a Baroque palace with a formal facade by Filippo Juvarra. From behind, it’s the medieval castle that began in 1298 and gave the square its name.

Two women gave it the name Madama. In 1637, Christine of France moved in, covered the courtyard and made it her private quarters. She felt something bad was brewing at the Royal Palace. A later Savoy wife planned a grander makeover with Juvarra but never finished it.

VoiceMap’s audio tours trace the building from the Roman gate inside it to the 2006 Winter Olympics, when it housed the International Olympic Committee. They also show where a gallery once joined it to the Royal Palace.