Cuorgnè
Hi everyone! Today we're talking about Turin, a beautiful city located in the Italian region of Piedmont. With its 842,472 inhabitants, Turin is the fourth most populous municipality in Italy and the heart of a metropolitan area of about 1.7 million inhabitants. In this text, I want to tell you a bit about the city's history and geography, but also share some curiosities about the activities that take place here.
History of Turin
Foundation
Turin has a millennial history: it was probably founded around the 3rd century BC by the Taurini, a Celtic tribe that settled in the area. At that time, the territory was crossed by the rivers Stura di Lanzo, Sangone and Po, which still flow through the city today. Later, Turin was turned into a Roman colony by Augustus at the end of the 1st century BC, with the name of 'Iulia Augusta Taurinorum'.
Duchy of Turin
After the domination of the Ostrogoths, Turin became the capital of an important Duchy, ruled by the Savoy dynasty, in the 11th century. In 1563 the city officially became its capital, remaining in the hands of the Savoy family until the unification of Italy. In fact, it was Turin that became the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720-1861) and subsequently, with the independence of the country, became the first capital of the newborn Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865.
Physical Geography of Turin
Territory
Turin is located in the plain delimited by the rivers Stura di Lanzo, Sangone and Po, facing the mouth of some Alpine valleys. Among these are the Val di Susa and the Valli di Lanzo, which connect the city with neighboring France through the Frejus tunnels.
UNESCO-Protected Sites
Turin also has the privilege of hosting areas and buildings included in two UNESCO-protected sites: some palaces and areas belonging to the circuit of Savoy residences in Piedmont (world heritage site) and the area of the hills of Po (biosphere reserve).
What to do in Turin
Economy-Industrial production
Turin is one of the three major centers of Economy-Industrial Production in Italy, along with Milan and Genoa. Here, the headquarters of numerous industries concentrate, including the automotive industry, banks and insurance companies, information technology, and many others.
Art, tourism, science, and culture
Turin is also an important center for art, tourism, science, and culture. Here you can find art museums, photography galleries, and specialized libraries in every field of knowledge. Cinema also has a great tradition in Turin: here in 1911 the International Exhibition was held, while in 2006 the XX Winter Olympic Games were held.
Food and drink
In Turin, gastronomic delicacies are not lacking: here vermouth, Gianduiotto chocolates, grissini, and espresso coffee were born. In addition, Piedmont is famous for its fine wines and specialties of cheeses and cured meats.
Sports events
In recent years, Turin has also distinguished itself as a city of internationally renowned sports events: here the ATP Finals tennis tournaments and the important football event of the Lega Supercoppa took place, and in 2022 Turin was chosen as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Information technology and artificial intelligence
Turin is also an important center for information technology and artificial intelligence, with numerous startups and world-renowned research centers.
Conclusions
In short, Turin is a city with multiple attractions: history, architecture, culture, art, science, tourism, food and drink, sports, and technology. If you haven't visited it yet, I recommend you do so soon to discover all its charm and beauty.
