"Turin is, quite simply, the most magnificent baroque city in Europe."
We'll be visiting Torino Dec. 24th thru Dec. 27th. And here's a little bit about why we chose it.
"Turin is, quite simply, the most magnificent baroque city in Europe."
The Sunday Times (January 12, 2004)
Torino (Turin) was the first capital city of Italy (from 1861 to 1864). Situated at the foot of the western Alps it is less than 60 miles from France and 80 miles from Switzerland. The city's impressive architecture dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, with a baroque style that dominates its streets.
Anyone that wishes to really see and experience Italy should not miss Torino, where you will be awed by its fabulous buildings and beautiful surroundings; you'll also be able savour its café and chocolate culture.
Turin is home to one of the best Egyptian museums in the world. The city center iis full of outstanding buildings such as the Mole Antonelliana, the Palazzo Madama and Reale, and the beautiful Valentino Park. It has several majestic piazzas, including Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello. Turin is the birth-place and home to FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino). Turin also houses a number of universities and cultural institutions of international repute. This is thanks to their splendid libraries, collections of rare and ancient books (and priceless documents).
Turin today is a dynamic reality engaged in a modernization process unmatched in Italy. Although it is internationally renowned as an industrial city and a capital of the motor car this (for Turin), is now a stereotype...a vast understatement of what the enchanting city has to offer. Today, its image is different, more diverse: the city is oriented towards the new high-tech and efficient Europe.
"Turin is transforming itself from a faded industrial powerhouse (home to Fiat) into a city capable of impressing the world as host to the 2006 Winter Olympics." - New York Times, 2005
Turin has been the capital of the Savoy Kingdom the capital of the motor car industry, the Alpine peaks and even of the cinema. Precious collections are housed in some of the most important museums in the city. In the rooms of the National Motor Car Museum (Museo "Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia") it is possible to follow the evolution of the motor car, from successful racing cars to the latest products of ecological research.
In particular, four projects are worthy examples: the former Lingotto car factory has been converted to a complex with modern services, cultural venues and a hotel; the old steel and iron industrial area is being transformed into Europe's first environmental technological park (Environment Park) occupying an area of 100 hectars: the Turin Polytechnic is being doubled in size to cover 13 hectares, and has benefited from a major injection of funds into its research and training activities; finally, the city's railway system is being redeveloped and improved with important "passante" (railway link) works (three lines of 15 km placed underground), thus making a radical transformation in the system for the access into the city, and the mobility around it.
Majestic and imposing, the River Po crosses Turin offering an exciting passageway into an entire different feeling part of town.
Discovering Torino means exploring 20 centuries of history. Walking along its streets feels like visiting an open-air museum. Palazzo Carignano was home to the first Italian Parliament. Today it houses the Museum of the Risorgimento and a theater. The Baroque Piazza Carignano is the Galleria Sabauda and the Egyptian Museum, which, founded in 1824, is the world's oldest (and the second most important). It houses more than 30,000 items, including the black granite statue of Ramses II, the tomb of the architect Kha and a large collection of papyruses and objects.
In Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama houses the Art Museum. Opposite is the church of San Lorenzo, and to the right the Royal Palace. Alongside the cathedral is the chapel of the Holy Shroud with the Dome by Guarini. The Holy Shroud has been conserved and periodically displayed here since 1864: an object of pilgrimage revered as Jesus Christ's funeral shroud, but also an object of historical and scientific interest. Following the new wing of the Royal Palace, one reaches the Palatine Gates, the entrance to Roman Torino. To the right are the Museum of Antiquity and the Royal Gardens. Behind the State Archive and the Teatro Regio is the area of the Cavallerizza, and in the same direction one can admire the Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of the city.
Turin's historical heritage includes the Savoy Residences; buildings of outstanding historical and architectonic interest, some of which offer an unusually lively range of cultural activities and exhibitions, whose interest is not only local.
You can see the original article and some great photos at http://www.ludustours.com/turin.htm
You can find even more information about this fabulous city at http://www.comune.torino.it/canaleturismo/en/
"Turin is, quite simply, the most magnificent baroque city in Europe."
The Sunday Times (January 12, 2004)
Torino (Turin) was the first capital city of Italy (from 1861 to 1864). Situated at the foot of the western Alps it is less than 60 miles from France and 80 miles from Switzerland. The city's impressive architecture dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, with a baroque style that dominates its streets.
Anyone that wishes to really see and experience Italy should not miss Torino, where you will be awed by its fabulous buildings and beautiful surroundings; you'll also be able savour its café and chocolate culture.
Turin is home to one of the best Egyptian museums in the world. The city center iis full of outstanding buildings such as the Mole Antonelliana, the Palazzo Madama and Reale, and the beautiful Valentino Park. It has several majestic piazzas, including Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello. Turin is the birth-place and home to FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino). Turin also houses a number of universities and cultural institutions of international repute. This is thanks to their splendid libraries, collections of rare and ancient books (and priceless documents).
Turin today is a dynamic reality engaged in a modernization process unmatched in Italy. Although it is internationally renowned as an industrial city and a capital of the motor car this (for Turin), is now a stereotype...a vast understatement of what the enchanting city has to offer. Today, its image is different, more diverse: the city is oriented towards the new high-tech and efficient Europe.
"Turin is transforming itself from a faded industrial powerhouse (home to Fiat) into a city capable of impressing the world as host to the 2006 Winter Olympics." - New York Times, 2005
Turin has been the capital of the Savoy Kingdom the capital of the motor car industry, the Alpine peaks and even of the cinema. Precious collections are housed in some of the most important museums in the city. In the rooms of the National Motor Car Museum (Museo "Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia") it is possible to follow the evolution of the motor car, from successful racing cars to the latest products of ecological research.
In particular, four projects are worthy examples: the former Lingotto car factory has been converted to a complex with modern services, cultural venues and a hotel; the old steel and iron industrial area is being transformed into Europe's first environmental technological park (Environment Park) occupying an area of 100 hectars: the Turin Polytechnic is being doubled in size to cover 13 hectares, and has benefited from a major injection of funds into its research and training activities; finally, the city's railway system is being redeveloped and improved with important "passante" (railway link) works (three lines of 15 km placed underground), thus making a radical transformation in the system for the access into the city, and the mobility around it.
Majestic and imposing, the River Po crosses Turin offering an exciting passageway into an entire different feeling part of town.
Discovering Torino means exploring 20 centuries of history. Walking along its streets feels like visiting an open-air museum. Palazzo Carignano was home to the first Italian Parliament. Today it houses the Museum of the Risorgimento and a theater. The Baroque Piazza Carignano is the Galleria Sabauda and the Egyptian Museum, which, founded in 1824, is the world's oldest (and the second most important). It houses more than 30,000 items, including the black granite statue of Ramses II, the tomb of the architect Kha and a large collection of papyruses and objects.
In Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama houses the Art Museum. Opposite is the church of San Lorenzo, and to the right the Royal Palace. Alongside the cathedral is the chapel of the Holy Shroud with the Dome by Guarini. The Holy Shroud has been conserved and periodically displayed here since 1864: an object of pilgrimage revered as Jesus Christ's funeral shroud, but also an object of historical and scientific interest. Following the new wing of the Royal Palace, one reaches the Palatine Gates, the entrance to Roman Torino. To the right are the Museum of Antiquity and the Royal Gardens. Behind the State Archive and the Teatro Regio is the area of the Cavallerizza, and in the same direction one can admire the Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of the city.
Turin's historical heritage includes the Savoy Residences; buildings of outstanding historical and architectonic interest, some of which offer an unusually lively range of cultural activities and exhibitions, whose interest is not only local.
You can see the original article and some great photos at http://www.ludustours.com/turin.htm
You can find even more information about this fabulous city at http://www.comune.torino.it/canaleturismo/en/
posted by Wendy Hughes-Jelen @ 12:21 PM
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