Once seen as little more than an industrial city, Turin is now undergoing extensive urban regeneration,
which was further helped by the surge in tourist numbers brought about by its hosting of the
2006 Winter Olympics.
Situated on the mighty
River Po in the far northwest of Italy, and surrounded by stunning
alpine scenery, Turin offers visitors a feast of
baroque architecture, ornate
art nouveau cafes and museum collections covering everything from Egyptology to contemporary art.
For years Turin was synonymous with
car giant FIAT, which was founded
here in 1899 - however the city’s origins go back much further. Julius Caesar’s
Quadrilatero Romano (Roman Quarter) can still be seen and is now abuzz with
trendy restaurants.
By the early Middle Ages the powerful
Savoy dynasty had taken control - leaving a legacy of
lavish palaces. After unification, Turin was the
first capital of Italy, an honor it held for just four years.
The symbol of the city is the
Mole Antonelliana, an eye-catching dome, while its most famous relic is the
Holy Shroud, thought by some to be the cloth that wrapped Christ’s body after the crucifixion. It still attracts thousands of pilgrims.
Other visitors come to shop under the city’s elegant porticoes, or try some of the local
gastronomic specialties such as Lavazza coffee,
Gianduja (hazelnut chocolate) and Vermouth.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Italy Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Italy Airport Guides:
|
Italy City Guides:
|
| Italy Attraction Guides: |
|
|
|
|
