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TURIN - ITALY
Turin (Italian Torino) is a major industrial city in north-western Italy,
capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po
River. Population of the commune 865,263 (2001 census), but its metropolitan
area totals about 1.5 million inhabitants. The province is one of the
largest in Italy, with 6,830 sq. km, and one of the most populated, with
2,165,619 inhabitants at the 2001 census.
History
The name of Turin comes from TAU, a celtic word that means mountains. The
area was settled by the Taurini in pre-Roman times. In the first century A.D.,
the Romans created a military camp (Castra Taurinorum), later dedicated to
Augustus (Augusta Taurinorum). The typical Roman street plan with streets at
right angles can still be seen in the modern city. The capital of the Duchy
of Savoy since 16th century, the Kingdom of Sardinia and then in 1861 Turin
became the capital of the newly proclaimed United Italy. In 1865 the capital
was moved to Florence, currently Rome is the capital since 1871 .
Geography
Turin has two major rivers, Po and Dora Riparia.
Economy
Nowadays the city is a major industrial centre, known particularly as home
to the headquarters and main production lines of the car company Fiat. The
city is home to the famous Lingotto building, which was at one time the
largest car factory in the world, and is now a convention centre, concert
hall, art gallery, and hotel.
Demographics
As of 2001, Turin is the fourth largest city in population in Italy, with a
population of 857,433.
Sites of interest
One of its main symbols is Mole Antonelliana. The Cathedral of Saint John
the Baptist houses the Shroud of Turin, an old linen cloth with an imprint
of a man, which is believed by many to be the cloth that covered Jesus in
his grave. The Museo Egizio has one of the most important collections of
Egyptian antiquities in the world. Torino offers a circuit of great
historical and architectural interest: the Savoy Residences. In addition to
the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Savoys until 1865, the
circuit includes palaces, residences and castles in the city centre and in
the surrounding towns. Torino is home to Palazzo Chiablese, the Royal
Armoury, the Royal Library, Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano, Villa della
Regina, and the Valentino Castle. In the area around the city, the castles
of Rivoli, Moncalieri, Venaria, Aglič, Racconigi, and Govone can be visited.
The Hunting Lodge by Juvarra can be admired in Stupinigi and there is also
the royal estate in Pollenzo. Some of these (first and foremost Rivoli, the
location of the Museum of the same name) host events, exhibitions and
cultural initiatives not only of local interest. In 1997, this complex of
historical buildings was recognised as a world heritage site by Unesco. The
city is also famous for being the film set of the 1969 classic film, The
Italian Job, starring Michael Caine. It is possible to visit all the
locations on a special tour.
Colleges and universities
University of Turin (Universitŕ degli Studi di Torino)
Politecnico di Torino (Turin)
Sports teams
The city is famous for its soccer teams (Juventus and A.C. Torino), and will
host the 2006 Winter Olympics. In a terrible air accident in 1949, a plane
carrying the whole Torino football team (at that time one of the most
important in Italy) hit the church of Superga, on the Turin hills. Among
those who lost their lives was Valentino Mazzola, father of Ferruccio and
Sandro Mazzola (who were also later to be football champions).
Nearby towns
Turin is surrounded by several smaller cities in the Province of Turin such
as Grugliasco, Rivoli, Orbassano, Moncalieri, Avigliana, Buttigliera Alta,
Gassino Torinese, etc. to make up one of Italy's primary metropolitan areas.
Notable natives
Count Camillo Benso di Cavour
Galileo Ferraris
Piero Gobetti
Joseph Louis Lagrange
Primo Levi
Umberto Tozzi
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