Phots from Web
Parco della Pellerina is the largest park in Turin. It is located in the western part of the city between Corso Regina and Corso Appio Claudio. Crossed by the Dora Riparia, it covers an area of almost 84 hectares.
The idea of creating a park in this area originated at the beginning of the 20th century, but work only began in the 1930s. For about fifty years, the park underwent continuous modifications and improvements, reaching its current layout in the 1980s.
One of the most important works was the modification of the river’s course. The path of the Dora Riparia was extensively modified to make it more linear within the park.
The park features a free-entry skating rink, an outdoor pool, soccer fields, bocce and tennis courts, a dirt BMX track, and other sports facilities.
A large dirt square within the park usually hosts temporary recreational events, such as circuses or the carnival funfair.
Two artificial lakes were also created, frequented by mallards and swans. Additionally, following the 2000 flood, a natural pond about 80 cm deep formed in a depression in the ground.
The park also houses a Carabinieri barracks.
Since 2009, the entire part facing Corso Regina Margherita has been dedicated to the seven workers who lost their lives in the 2007 ThyssenKrupp fire.
This large green space is very popular with citizens, especially on spring weekends. During this period, the lawn is crowded with families having picnics and barbecues. Unfortunately, in recent years, it has been slowly declining due to the continuous closures of the summer pool and the lack of safety, especially at night.
Cascina Marchesa
The park also includes an ancient 17th-century farmhouse. In some historical documents from the early 1700s, it is referred to as Balestra. At the end of the century, it is instead reported as Cascina del signor Filippone Mercante di spade. In the mid-1800s, the property was transferred to the Tallucchi brothers and has retained the name Cascina Marchesa ever since.
During the 20th century, the building became municipal property. Over the years, it was occupied and cleared several times until it was granted in 2010 to the Turin Marathon sports club, which oversaw its restoration. Since then, it has been the site of sports activities and hosts a hotel and a restaurant.
The lioness
Finally, a curiosity. As in the whole city, the park is dotted with several Toret, the typical green cast-iron fountain with a bull’s head, one of the symbols of Turin. Well, in Parco della Pellerina, there is one that instead of a bull has a lioness’s head. We have not been able to discover its origin or reason. If anyone has any ideas, please contact us!
The Parco della Pellerina doesn’t exist!
In reality, the Parco della Pellerina is dedicated to Mario Carrara, one of the only 12 university professors in Turin out of over 1,200 who refused to take the oath of allegiance to fascism. However, it is commonly known as Pellerina, an ancient farmhouse that no longer exists. Even though it does not officially exist, the name Pellerina has become so widespread that in recent years it has also been included on city maps.
Curious and interesting is one of the possible interpretations of the name’s origin. It could indeed derive from the contraction of pietra della berlina, where insolvent debtors who could not pay their creditors were exposed to public ridicule by making them sit without underwear. Hence, put to shame. Incidentally, from this practice also comes the saying “picchiare con il culo per terra” to indicate someone who has gone bankrupt.
A second version attributes the name to its location. The farmhouse was located near Via San Michele, the route that many pilgrims traveled from the Benedictine Abbey of Mont Saint Michel in Normandy to the Sanctuary of San Michele in Gargano. Upon reaching the vicinity of Turin, the pilgrims stopped here before entering the city. La Pellerina would therefore be the contraction of La Pellegrina.