Mompantero
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Turin, an Italian city that stole my heart with its history, culture, and charm. The city is located in the region of Piedmont and has a population of approximately 842,472 as of October 31, 2022, making it the fourth most populous municipality in Italy. So, get ready for a virtual tour of this wonderful city.
History
Foundation
Turin has a two-thousand-year history. It was founded around the 3rd century BC by the Taurini and later transformed into a Roman colony by Augustus with the name of "Iulia Augusta Taurinorum" in the 1st century BC.
House of Savoy's Dominion
After the Ostrogothic rule, Turin became the capital of an important Duchy of Turin and, after becoming the capital of the March of Turin, it passed under the nominal lordship of the House of Savoy in the 11th century. In 1563, it became its capital and from 1720, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia until it became the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
Culture and Tourism
Turin is an important university and cultural center with a wide range of museums, including the National Museum of Cinema, the Egyptian Museum, and the Museum of the Risorgimento. The city is also famous for its royal Savoy residences and the architectural beauty of squares such as Piazza Castello, Piazza San Carlo, and Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Economy
Industrial Production
Turin is one of the major centers of Italian industrial production, along with Milan and Genoa. In the past, together with these two cities, it formed the famous Italian industrial triangle during the period of the economic miracle. Turin is the hub of the Italian automotive industry, with brands such as Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo headquartered in the surrounding area.
Other Sectors
In addition to the automotive industry, Turin is an important center for banking and insurance, information technology, cinema, food and wine, the space sector, industrial design, sports, fashion, and artificial intelligence. Turin also hosts the ATP Finals and the Eurovision Song Contest.
Geography
Territory
Turin is located in the plain delimited by the rivers Stura di Lanzo, Sangone, and Po. The Po River runs through the city from south to north. The city faces the mouth of some alpine valleys like the Val di Susa, the Lanzo Valleys, and the Sangone Valley. Turin is also close to France thanks to the Frejus tunnels, the Frejus railway tunnel, and the Frejus road tunnel.
Curiosities
Turin is the birthplace of some Italian products such as vermouth, Gianduiotto chocolates, breadsticks, and espresso coffee. Moreover, the city hosted the International Exhibition of Turin in 1911 and the XX Winter Olympic Games in 2006.
In summary, Turin is a wonderful city that encompasses centuries of history and culture, in addition to being an important industrial and automotive production center. The city offers many tourist attractions and historical sites of great value, such as the National Museum of Cinema and the Egyptian Museum. In short, if you have never been there, I highly recommend visiting it.
