Givoletto
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Turin, one of the most famous and important cities in Italy. With 842,472 inhabitants, Turin is the fourth largest city in Italy by population and the heart of the Turin metropolitan area, which has about 1.7 million inhabitants.
City of art, culture, and science
UNESCO heritage
Not everyone knows that Turin boasts a cultural and artistic heritage of international value. In fact, its territory includes areas and buildings listed as protected by UNESCO, such as some palaces and areas that are part of the circuit of Savoy residences in Piedmont (World Heritage Site) and the Po Hills area (Biosphere Reserve).
History
Turin has a two-thousand-year history. It was probably founded around the 3rd century BC by the Taurini and transformed into a Roman colony by Augustus with the name "Iulia Augusta Taurinorum" in the 1st century BC. After the Ostrogothic domination, it became the capital of an important Duchy of Turin, then passed under the House of Savoy and became the capital of the duchy of Savoy in 1563. From 1720 it was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia until it became the first capital city of the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946).
Economy and industrial production
International importance
Turin is one of the major economic, university, artistic, tourist, and cultural hubs in Italy. It is the third largest economy-industrial production complex in the country, along with Milan and Genoa. Over the years, Turin has become an important center for publishing, banking, insurance, information technology, cinema, and food and wine. Moreover, it is the hub of the Italian automotive industry and artificial intelligence.
Physical geography
Territory
Turin is located in the plain delimited by the Stura di Lanzo, Sangone, and Po rivers, with the latter crossing the city from south to north. Turin is also facing the opening of some Alpine valleys, such as the Val di Susa, which connects it with neighboring France through the Frejus tunnels (Frejus Railway Tunnel and Frejus Road Tunnel), the Lanzo Valleys, and the Val Sangone. The territory of Turin is also characterized by the hilly landscape typical of Piedmont.
Events and tourist attractions
Exhibitions, Olympic Games, and Eurovision Song Contest
Turin has hosted important international events, such as the International Exposition of 1911, the 2006 Winter Olympics, the ATP Finals from 2021 and, in 2022, the Eurovision Song Contest. Moreover, Turin offers numerous tourist attractions, such as the Royal Gardens, the Egyptian Museum, the Mole Antonelliana, seat of the National Cinema Museum, and the Basilica of Superga.
Piedmontese cuisine
Culinary specialties
You cannot talk about Turin without mentioning its renowned Piedmontese cuisine. Among the most famous culinary specialties are undoubtedly vermouth, Gianduiotti, grissini, bagna cauda, and risotto with porcini mushrooms. But the Piedmontese cuisine also offers many other delicacies, such as raw meat beaten with a knife, agnolotti, mixed fried food in the Piedmontese way, fondue, and hazelnut cake.
In conclusion, Turin is a city with countless facets, which combines a millenary history with a modern and thriving economy, offering visitors many opportunities to discover its artistic, cultural, and natural beauties. I strongly recommend you to visit it at least once in your life!
