Pertusio
Hi everyone!
Today we're going to talk about one of my favorite Italian cities: Turin! With its 842,472 inhabitants (data updated as of October 31, 2022), it is the fourth largest municipality in Italy by population and the capital of the Piedmont region and the Metropolitan City of Turin.
History
Its two-thousand-year history began with its foundation, probably around the 3rd century BC, by the Taurini, and later became a Roman colony called "Iulia Augusta Taurinorum" in the 1st century BC. Over time, it passed under the dominion of the Ostrogoths and the important Ducati di Torino, and then became the capital of the Marca di Torino and under the nominal lordship of the House of Savoy. Starting from 1720, Turin was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and subsequently of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1946.
Culture
Not only is Turin a city rich in history, but it is also the center of numerous cultural events, such as the 1911 International Exhibition, the XX Winter Olympic Games in 2006, the ATP Finals since 2021, and the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022. The city is also famous for its gastronomic products, including vermouth, Gianduiotti chocolates, grissini breadsticks, and espresso coffee, as well as for its automotive industry and banking and insurance activities.
Physical Geography
Turin is located in the plain in the northwest of Italy, surrounded by the Stura di Lanzo, Sangone, and Po rivers. The city is also located a few kilometers from the Alps, with the Val di Susa, Valli di Lanzo, and Val Sangone meeting in the city's territory. The presence of these mountains has made the city an important center for winter sports.
UNESCO Protected Sites
Some areas and palaces that are part of the Savoy Residences in Piedmont are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as are the Po Hills, which are a biosphere reserve. These historic and natural sites are a tourist attraction of the city and are part of its cultural heritage.
Economy
Turin is one of the major university, artistic, tourist, scientific, and cultural hubs in Italy. The city is an important center for the Italian automotive industry, publishing, banking and insurance activities, information technology, cinema, fashion, and artificial intelligence. Thanks to its constantly growing importance at the international level, Turin has been recognized as a global city in the Gamma category, after Milan and Rome.
I hope this brief overview has been helpful in getting to know the city of Turin and its cultural and natural heritage. I can't wait to visit it again and discover even more!
