Torino
Torino (Turin) is a major business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital of Piemonte (Piedmont) region, located on the left bank of the Po River, in front of Susa Valley and surrounded by the western Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 911,823 (December 2012) while the population of the urban area is estimated to be 1.7 million inhabitants.
The city has a rich culture and history, and is known for its historical cafés, art galleries, fine restaurants, churches and palaces, nice squares and urban parks, libraries and museums. Turin is well known for its baroque, “rococò”, neo-classical, and Art Nouveau architecture. Many of the public squares of the city, castles, gardens and elegant palaces such as Palazzo Madama, were built in the 16th and 18th century, after the capital of the Duchy of Savoy (later Kingdom of Sardinia) was moved from Chambery (nowadays France) to Torino. Depending on what you believe, Torino’s charms aren’t only tangible, either. Allegedly, Torino forms a ‘white magic triangle’ of mystical energies along with Lyon and Prague, as well as a ‘black magic triangle’ with London and San Francisco. Torino also sits at the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Po and the Dora, believed to represent the male and female powers of the sun and the moon. Moreover the city’s cathedral is home to the secrecy of the enigmatic Holy Shroud, which attracts thousands of Catholic pilgrims during its rare public unveilings and to the mysteries of the collections of the Egyptian Museum, including authentic Egyptian mummies, a Sphinx and several Pharaon’s masks.
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Historically, Torino is considered the "cradle of Italian independence", for having been the birthplace and home of notable politicians and people who contributed decisively to the Italian Unification such as Cavour and Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of Italy.
The city currently hosts some of Italy's best universities such as the six centuries old University of Torino and the Torino Polytechnic, and many important museums such as the huge Mole Antonelliana, hosting the National Cinema Museum, one of the most popular museums in town. Torino is well known as the home of the football teams Juventus and Torino, the headquarters of automobile manufacturers FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, and as host of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Several International Space Station modules, such as Harmony and Columbus, were also manufactured in Turin. |
But the real magic of Torino is that it is relatively inexpensive, green, easy to get around and refreshingly free of crowds, making it a great alternative to the well-known tourist centres as a place to experience the Italian culture.