The Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino is known in English as the Turin Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, but is often shortened to the GAM. Find it in the historic center of the city, close to many of Turin’s other top attractions. Be prepared to spend a few hours discovering its many works, which date from the 19th century to the present.
Turin opened its Civic Museum, which would later become the GAM, in 1863. The museum’s collection moved location several times, most recently in 1959, to the present building, which was designed by architects Carlo Bassi and Goffredo Boschetti. Visit today, however, and the building you will see differs somewhat from its 1959 incarnation, having been renovated and rebuilt in the early 1990s.
The gallery’s permanent collections include around 45,000 artworks across sculpture, painting, installation, photography and film. View works by some of the most prominent Italian artists of the 19th century, such as Pellizza da Volpedo e Medardo Rosso and Fontanesi, among others. The gallery also holds many 20th-century works by renowned artists, not only from Italy but beyond. Expect to see works by the likes of Max Ernst and Paul Klee as well as Morandi and Casorati.
There is also significant gallery space set aside for contemporary works of art and for temporary exhibitions. Check what is on before you visit, as these exhibitions change regularly.
When you have finished seeing the art, take a break in the on-site café or browse for an art-related book in the bookstore.
There is an admission fee to enter the Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino. Do note, however, that visitors under the age of 18 get in for free, and rates for senior citizens are reduced. Be aware that the gallery is closed on Mondays and opening hours are affected by public holidays. The gallery is very easy to find, being located in the center of the city, only around 10 minutes’ walk from Turin’s main train station.
