Turin is the capital of the Italian region Piemonte located in the north-west of the peninsula. Can be considered as an industrial city which in fact really is, but it is not only. Torino is a city rich in history and tourist attractions. Of course its main characteristic still remains the industrial one, and that due to the Fiat plant which has its origins here. In fact the brand name Italian FIAT consist of the initials of the designation “Fabrica Italiana Automobile Torino”.
The establishment of the factory Fiat has led to an increase in the number of inhabitants through the phenomenon of emigration from the southern area. In the recent years immigrants from other countries have been added, attracted by the convenience of a city with such resources.
Turin inhabirants, as all the Italians in general are friendly, kind and open. Wherever you are, in publuc transportation, restaurants, shops or other public places, you will find people open to conversation and kindly. In a word, a hospitable city.
But let’s discover the city starting from the center, the most frequented place due to many attractions that are located there, among of them being also the crowded commercial area.
Piazza Castello is a typical Italian square with a representative building of Palazzo Madama and Casaforte degli Acaja, a UNESCO heritage architectural complex, the headquarters of the Sabaude residence. Inside the Madama Palace it has its headquarters the Civic Museum of Ancient Art which hosts a synthesis of the history of the past 2000 years from the Roman era to the Renaissance age.
Also in Piazza Castello is the Palazzo Reale, i.e. the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Princes of Savoy until 1865.
Behind the royal palace rises the Cappela della Santa Sindone, the baroque-style church, where the Shroud of Jesus can be found.
From the front of the church you can see the ruins of one of the four Roman gates, la Porta Principalis Sinistra, today Porta Palatina, which until the Middle Ages represented the entrance into the city, and also the ruins of an ancient Roman theatre (I A. D.).
Once again in Piazza Castello we will be able to head to the streets that branch out from the public square, dedicated to the shopping area. The famous are via Roma, with its renowned luxury shops and also the more “accessible” ones via Garibaldi or via Po, full of stores for all pockets, mostly frequented by young people but not only. Also via Lagrange and many others give you the shining spectacle of the stainless glass windows that will make you to step onto the thresholds of the stores.
Other squares like Piazza San Giovanni from where you can admire several medieval edifices, Piazza San Carlo dominated by the Caval?d?Brons statue rised in honor of Emanuele Filiberto (1838). Through via Roma, at the end of it, there is Piazza Carlo Felice and behind that, the Porta Nuova train station built between 1865-1868.
Piazza Vittorio Veneto is one of the largest in Europe, surrounded by buildings in the same baroque style that characterizes the city. From here you can admire the church of Gran Madre di Dio and Mount Cappuccini from where you can admire the beautiful panorama of the city. The Vittorio Veneto square is loved by city inhabitants for the many nightlife venues restaurants and bars open at any time of the day.
From the square, heading via Po and then via Montebello you can reach the edifice of Turin, Mole Anonelliana Tower, 167 metres high, which hosts the National Museum of Cinema. The panoramic lift inside the tower, carries tourists at a height of 85 meters, from where they can admire the beautiful panorama of the city at 360 degrees, the hills sorounding the city and the alpine mountain arch with its snow caped peaks in almost all the time of the year.
As famous museums it is of noticeable importance Museo Egizio i.e Egyptian considered the most important in the world after the one in Cairo. Museo Nazionale del Rinascimento (National Renaissance Museum), which hosted the first Italian Parliament (Turin being the first capital of Italy between 1861-1864) can be admired in the Carignano Palace (build in 1752 by Benedetto Alfieri) where the Carignano Theatre is also located. Next to the theatre entrances there also can be found the historic Il Cambio restaurant where you can still see the table where Cavour used to sit in old times.
The city hosts over 40 museums sone of which as we have shown of world significance. Also the Automotive Museum, unique in Europe.