Manicomio di Collegno (Certosa)

This large complex of buildings situated in the town of Collegno Italy was originally a "Certosa," an Italian word for a Carthusian monastery, or "charterhouse." It was later used as a psychiatric hospital. Construction of the monastery was ordered in 1641 by Christine of France, after King Louis XIII made a pilgrimage to the Grand Charterhouse and vowed to build one near Turin. Grandiose plans were repeatedly scaled back due to financial difficulties, however a grand entrance hall was constructed by the architect Filippo Juvarra in 1725