Torino

Today I would like to talk about my hometown that happens to be in a very beautiful city in the north of Italy: Turin.

In this short article I’ll try to sum up the most important things to know about Turin’s culture and history and then, a little bonus for you guys, I’ll give you some practical information so that you can have the best experience.

Turin is the capital of Piedmont and its stemma is the Taurus with a Crown, why a crown? Well, you must know that Turin have been the first capital of Italy in 1861, when the kingdom was founded and the first king of Italy Vittorio Emanuele I, was born here.

Thanks to its French influences, the architectural style of Turin is mainly Baroque and for this reason the city is called the Little Paris of Italy. As a matter of fact, out of town, there is the equivalent of Versailles, La Venaria Reale, the residence of the royal family The Savoy, with its chess hallway will leave you breathless.

In every corner of the historic there are hidden artistic treasures. The most important ones are the royal residences, such as Palazzo Madama (its interiors are stunning, as you can see in the photos). All the ancient palaces are connected by public porches which function was to protect the court ladies from the rain that pours frequently. Then, the Egyptian Museum which is the second after Il Cairo Museum for the quality of its collection. Finally, Palazzo Carignano, once an important political centre, is a beautiful example of baroque.

To get more into the culture of Turin, I tried to sum in the collage you can see in the photo, the symbols of the city. Firstly, the Mole Antonelliana, the tallest Museum in the world and a great example of architecture, is the Cinema Museum. Secondly, the Gianduiotto, a bonbon which you can only find in Turin chocolate shops and bars; it is not coincidence that Turin is the capital of chocolate, since Nutella was born in this region. The Turets, are the special fountains you can find in every corner of the city, their water is drinkable, and it is free. Then the Egyptian Museum and of course, the holy shroud, which is conserved in the Dome of Turin but is visible only in some dates and under reservation. The fiat 500 car, the first were produced in the Fiat factory in Turin, you can see them in the Museum of Car. To conclude the Juventus Team, which belongs to Turin and Agnelli’s family and is the most important team in Italy.

Now, for those who are planning their trip to Turin, it’s Advice time!

How to reach the city? The city has its own little airport, which is connected by buses, for six euros they bring you to the city centre, so is not expensive. Otherwise the trains are well connected, even if they are more expensive than flixbus.

What to do? You can’t really miss if you visit Turin is the Magic Tour. You will be led through the “dark” side of the city. Turin has two souls: one linked to white magic, the other to evil black-magic. You will explore them both during a "magical mystery tour" starting from the darker and more sinister heart of the city (Statuto Square), among angels and devils, scary stone monsters and sinister architecture to finish in the white part of the city (Gran Madre di Dio church), in which, the Holy Graal is believed to be kept.

Let’s face it, since we’re in Italy, you can’t miss the gastronomy experience. In Turin there is a huge variety of things to try. First of all, the Bicerin, like 5pm tea for turin’s inhabitants, it is made by coffee, hot chocolate and cream (mmh tasty). The bread sticks (grissini) were born here and so the aperitive. You can definitely go wine tasting, it is the best region to do so! You have the finest red wines here: Barolo and Barbera and the sweetest cava, Moscato. And for the strongest stomachs: the Tamango, a very strong cocktail only served in the original Turin pubs.

Last but not least, enjoy the view of the Alps and the city from Superga, a high spot on a hill, right in the back of the city. (For the couples, it’s a very romantic spot to bring your beloved).

When should you go? There are three important events in Turin, for the music lovers there is the festival of Jazz which is celebrated in spring. Secondly, for chocolate lovers there is CioccolaTò, which is celebrated in November and finally the Christmas Artists Lights dress up the city from November to February making it the most magic time of the year.

I hope that it has been helpful for you and I hope I gave you the curiosity to discover more about this beautiful city!