Casalborgone
Hi everyone! Today we will talk about Turin, a very important and captivating city in Italy! Let's start with the physical geography of the city. Turin is located in the Po Valley, bordered by the Stura di Lanzo, Sangone, and Po rivers. The latter runs through the city from south to north. Turin is also situated at the mouth of some alpine valleys such as the Val di Susa, which connects it to neighboring France through the Frejus tunnels (Frejus railway tunnel and Frejus road tunnel), Lanzo Valleys, and Val Sangone.
The territory of Turin is very vast, with a total surface area of 130.17 km². Thanks to the presence of rivers and nearby mountains, the city has a sub-continental temperate climate, with cold and foggy winters and hot and humid summers.
History
Foundation and Roman past
Turin has a very interesting history dating back to the 3rd century BC, when it was founded by the Taurini. According to legend, the city was founded where Piazza Castello now stands, which was once a lake. Later, during the Roman period, Turin became a Roman colony called "Iulia Augusta Taurinorum" thanks to Emperor Augustus in the 1st century BC. Turin thus became an important commercial and cultural center of imperial Rome.
Medieval and Modern Period
After the Roman period, Turin passed under the dominion of the Ostrogoths, and then became the capital of an important Duchy of Turin in the 11th century. Later, the city passed under nominal lordship of the House of Savoy, becoming the capital of the duchy of Savoy in 1563. In 1720, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, a State that in the 19th century would lead to the Risorgimento and that made Turin the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946).
Economy
Turin is the third largest economy-industrial production complex in the country, after Milan and Genoa. During the years of the Italian economic boom, Turin, together with Milan and Genoa, made up the industrial triangle of the country. Today, Turin is the hub of the Italian automotive industry, home to the headquarters of important car manufacturers such as FIAT, as well as being an important center for publishing, banking and insurance, information technology, cinema, food and wine, space (astronomy), industrial design, sports, fashion, and artificial intelligence.
Culture and Tourism
Turin is a remarkable city for its cultural and tourist richness. The city contains important architectural, artistic, and cultural heritage. Furthermore, the territory of Turin includes areas and buildings included in two UNESCO-protected sites: some palaces and areas that are part of the circuit of the Savoy royal residences in Piedmont (World Heritage Site) and the Po hills area (Biosphere Reserve).
Moreover, Turin is famous for being the birthplace of some of the most important symbols of "Made in Italy" in the world, such as vermouth, Gianduiotti, breadsticks, and espresso coffee. Turin is also a city of great importance for sports tourism, having hosted international sporting events such as the XX Winter Olympic Games in 2006 and the ATP Finals from 2021 until at least 2025.
Conclusion
In summary, Turin is a city of considerable importance in Italy, thanks to its strategic geographic location, its millenary history, and its cultural and tourist influence. I hope that this information has been useful to all of you!
