Turin

Turin, also known as Torino, is a major city in northern Italy. It is the capital of the Piedmont region and a key business and cultural hub. From 1861 to 1865, Turin was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy, playing a central role in the country's unification during a time known as the Risorgimento.

The city lies near the River Po, surrounded by beautiful Alpine hills. With a population of over 855,000 in the city itself and millions more in the surrounding areas, Turin is a bustling center of industry, especially for the Italian automotive sector, where famous car brands like Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo have their headquarters.

Turin is rich in history and culture, featuring many art galleries, theaters, museums, and beautiful architecture from different periods, including Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Art Nouveau styles. Notable landmarks include the Palazzo Madama and the Mole Antonelliana, which now houses the National Museum of Cinema. The city is also famous for its universities, the Shroud of Turin, a popular chocolate treat called gianduiotto, and its famous football club, Juventus. Turin has hosted major international events, including the 2006 Winter Olympics.

History

Turin, also called Torino in Italian, has a long and rich history. It started as a settlement of an ancient people called the Taurini. The Romans later built a town there named Augusta Taurinorum. Over the centuries, Turin was ruled by many different groups, including the Lombards, Franks, and Savoy family.

In 1563, a leader named Emmanuel Philibert made Turin the capital of the Duchy of Savoy. The city grew and became more important. In 1861, Turin became the first capital of the newly united Kingdom of Italy, though the capital moved to Florence and later Rome in the following years. During World War II, Turin suffered damage from bombings but was later rebuilt. The city became known for its strong automobile industry and grew to over a million people. Today, Turin is a major cultural and business center in northern Italy.

Historical affiliations

Roman Republic 58–27 BC
Roman Empire 27 BC–285 AD
Western Roman Empire 285–476
Kingdom of Odoacer 476–493
Ostrogothic Kingdom 493–553
Eastern Roman Empire 553–569
.svg) Lombard Kingdom 569–773
Carolingian Empire 773–888
.svg) March of Ivrea 888–941
.svg) March of Turin 941–1046
.svg) County of Savoy 1046–1416
Duchy of Savoy 1416–1720
Kingdom of Sardinia 1720–1792
.svg) First French Republic 1792–1804
.svg) First French Empire 1804–1814
Kingdom of Sardinia 1814–1861
.svg) Kingdom of Italy 1861–1943
Italian Social Republic 1943–1945
.svg) Kingdom of Italy 1945–1946
Italian Republic 1946–present

Ancient origins

The Taurini were an ancient Celto-Ligurian, Alpine people who lived in the upper valley of the River Po, in the center of modern Piedmont. In 218 BC, they were attacked by Hannibal, who was allied with their enemies, the Insubres. Hannibal's forces captured the Taurini chief town (Taurasia) after a three-day siege. The Romans later established a colony named Julia Augusta Taurinorum, which is modern Turin.

Roman era

In the 1st century BC, the Romans founded Augusta Taurinorum. The street Via Garibaldi follows the path of the Roman city's main road, which started at Porta Decumani. The Porta Palatina gate is still preserved near the cathedral. Remains of a Roman theatre can be seen in the Manica Nuova area. Turin had about 5,000 people living inside its city walls at that time.

Middle Ages

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the town was taken over by the Heruli and the Ostrogoths, then recaptured by the Romans, and later conquered by the Lombards. The Lombards were followed by the Franks under Charlemagne. The countship of Turin was founded in the 940s and was held by the Arduinic dynasty until 1050. Later, the family of the Counts of Savoy took control. The city grew to 20,000 people by the end of the 13th century. Many gardens and palaces were built in the 15th century, and the University of Turin was founded during this time.

Early modern

Emmanuel Philibert, known as Iron Head, made Turin the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in 1563. New streets and buildings were added, including the Royal Palace of Turin. In 1706, during the Battle of Turin, the French tried to capture the city for 117 days but failed. By the Treaty of Utrecht, the Duke of Savoy gained Sicily, then traded it for Sardinia, and became the King of Sardinia. An architect named Filippo Juvarra began redesigning the city, which had about 90,000 people at the time.

Late modern and contemporary

Turin was taken over by the French Empire in 1802 and became the seat of a French department until Napoleon fell in 1814. After that, Turin became the capital of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia again. In 1861, Turin became the capital of the newly united Kingdom of Italy. The capital moved to Florence in 1865 and then to Rome in 1870.

The opening of the Fréjus Tunnel in 1871 made Turin an important place for travel between Italy and France. Famous buildings like the Mole Antonelliana and the Egyptian Museum were built during this time. The late 19th century was a time of fast growth in making cars, with Fiat starting in 1899 and Lancia in 1906. Turin hosted a big art show in 1902.

After World War I, there were many protests. In the years after World War II, Turin grew quickly because of its car factories, and many people moved there for jobs. The city's population reached almost 1.2 million in 1971 but then decreased when the car industry had problems. The population has started to grow again. In 2006, Turin hosted the Winter Olympic Games.

Geography

Turin is located in northwest Italy. It is surrounded by mountains on the western and northern sides and by a high hill on the eastern side. Four important rivers flow through the city, including the Po and three of its smaller rivers: the River Dora Riparia, the Stura di Lanzo, and the Sangone.

Climate

Turin has a climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool and dry, while summers can be warm, especially in the flat areas. Rain is most common in spring and autumn, and during hot summer months, there can be strong thunderstorms. Fog sometimes appears in the lower areas during winter and autumn, but it is less common in the city itself. Snow can fall in winter, but large amounts are rare.

Because Turin lies on the eastern side of the Alps, the weather is often drier than on the western side due to local wind patterns. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Turin was 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) on 11 August 2003, and the coldest was −21.8 °C (−7.2 °F) on 12 February 1956.

Demographics

As of 2026, Turin has a population of 855,654 people. About half are male, and the other half are female. Young people make up 13.4% of the population, while older adults make up 26.1%.

Immigration

As of 2025, many people living in Turin were born in other countries. Most people were born in Italy. Other common countries of birth include Romania, Morocco, Peru, Albania, Egypt, China, Moldova, and Nigeria.

Administration

See also: List of mayors of Turin

Turin is divided into 8 areas, called circoscrizioni. These areas do not match the old parts of the city, which have other names. There used to be 10 areas, but they were changed to 8 by joining some together.

Here are the 8 areas and some of the old parts inside them:

• Circoscrizione 1: Centro – Crocetta
• Circoscrizione 2: Santa Rita – Mirafiori Nord – Mirafiori Sud
• Circoscrizione 3: San Paolo – Cenisia – Pozzo Strada – Cit Turin – Borgata Lesna
• Circoscrizione 4: San Donato – Campidoglio – Parella
• Circoscrizione 5: Borgo Vittoria – Madonna di Campagna – Lucento – Vallette
• Circoscrizione 6: Barriera di Milano – Regio Parco – Barca – Bertolla – Falchera – Rebaudengo – Villaretto
• Circoscrizione 7: Aurora – Vanchiglia – Sassi – Madonna del Pilone
• Circoscrizione 8: San Salvario – Cavoretto – Borgo Po – Nizza Millefonti – Lingotto – Filadelfia

The mayor of Turin is chosen by voting every five years. The current mayor is Stefano Lo Russo (PD), who was elected in 2021.

Cityscape

Turin's historical architecture is mainly Baroque and was developed under the Savoyard state. The main street of the city centre, Via Roma, was built during the Fascist era (from 1931 to 1937) as an example of Italian Rationalism, replacing former buildings already present in this area.

Via Roma runs between Piazza Carlo Felice and Piazza Castello. Buildings on the portion between Piazza Carlo Felice and Piazza San Carlo were designed by rationalist architect Marcello Piacentini. These blocks were built into a reticular system, composed by austere buildings in clear rationalist style, such as the impressive Hotel Principi di Piemonte and the former Hotel Nazionale in Piazza CLN. Porches are built in a continuous entablature and marked with double columns, to be consistent with those of Piazza San Carlo. The section of the street between Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello was built in an eclectic style, with arcades characterised by Serliana-type arches. To this day Via Roma is the street featuring the most fashionable boutiques of the city.

Via Roma crosses one of the main squares of the city: the pedestrianised Piazza San Carlo, built by Carlo di Castellamonte in the 17th century. In the middle of the square stands the equestrian monument to Emmanuel Philibert, also known as Caval ëd Brons in the local dialect ('Bronze Horse'); the monument depicts the Duke sheathing his sword after the Battle of St. Quentin. Piazza San Carlo arcades host the most ancient cafés of the city, such as Caffé Torino and Caffé San Carlo.

At the northern end of Via Roma stands Piazza Castello, regarded as the heart of the city. The half-pedestrianised square hosts some significant buildings such as Palazzo Reale (Former Savoy Royal House), the Palazzo Madama (which previously hosted the Savoy senate and, for few years, the Italian senate after Italian unification), the former Baroque Teatro Regio di Torino (rebuilt in modern style in the 1960s, after being destroyed by fire), the Royal Library of Turin which hosts the Leonardo da Vinci self-portrait, and the baroque Royal Church of San Lorenzo. Moreover, Piazza Castello hosts a Fascist era building, the Torre Littoria, a sort of skyscraper which was supposed to become the headquarters of the Fascist party, although it never served as such. The building's style is quite different from the Baroque style of Piazza Castello. The square regularly hosts the main open space events of the city, live concerts included.

As for the southern part of the street, Via Roma ends in Piazza Carlo Felice and in its Giardino Sambuy, a wide fenced garden right in the middle of the square. Across from Piazza Carlo Felice stands the monumental façade of Porta Nuova railway station, the central station of the city built between 1861 and 1868 by the architect Alessandro Mazzucchetti. The passengers building was renovated to host a shopping mall and more efficient passenger service offices. However, it is still an example of monumental architecture, with its stately foyer and some Baroque sights, such as the Sala Reale (the former Royal waiting room).

In Piazza Castello converge some of the main streets of the city centre. Among them, one of the most significant is the arcaded Via Po, built by Amedeo di Castellamonte in 1674 and featuring some interesting buildings, such as the first and original building of the University of Turin and the historical Caffè Fiorio, which was the favourite café of the 19th-century politicians. Via Po ends in Piazza Vittorio Veneto (simply called Piazza Vittorio locally), the largest Baroque square in Europe and today heart of Turin nightlife. Piazza Vittorio features the most fashionable bars and not far from here, along the Po riverfront, the Murazzi quays used to host several bars and nightclubs open until the morning until a few years ago.

Parallel to Via Roma, the other two popular pedestrian streets, namely Via Lagrange and Via Carlo Alberto, cross the old town from Via Po to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Their recent pedestrianisation has improved their original commercial vocation. In particular, Via Lagrange has recently increased the presence of luxury boutiques. This street also hosts the Egyptian Museum of Turin, home to what is regarded as one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt.

Via Lagrange and Via Carlo Alberto cross two significant squares of the city, respectively. The former crosses Piazza Carignano, well known mainly for the undulating "concave – convex-concave" Baroque façade of Palazzo Carignano. This building used to host the Parlamento Subalpino (the 'Subalpine Parliament', Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia which also became the Italian Parliament for a few years, after the Italian unification) and today houses the Museum of the Risorgimento. The square also features the Teatro Carignano, a well-conserved Baroque theatre. Via Carlo Alberto crosses Piazza Carlo Alberto, a big square hosting the rear façade of Palazzo Carignano, in eclectic style. On the other side stands the monumental Biblioteca Nazionale (National Library).

Not far from Via Po stands the symbol of Turin, namely the Mole Antonelliana, so named after the architect who built it, Alessandro Antonelli. Construction began in 1863 as a Jewish synagogue. Nowadays it houses the National Museum of Cinema and it is believed to be the tallest museum in the world at 167 m (548 ft). The building is depicted on the Italian 2-cent coin.

Just behind Piazza Castello stands the Turin Cathedral, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, which is the major church of the city. It was built during 1491–1498 and is adjacent to an earlier bell tower (1470). Annexed to the cathedral is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, the current resting place of the Shroud of Turin. The chapel was added to the structure in 1668–1694, designed by Guarini. The Basilica of Corpus Domini was built to celebrate an alleged miracle which took place during the sack of the city in 1453, when a soldier was carrying off a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament; the monstrance fell to the ground, while the host remained suspended in air. The present church, erected in 1610 to replace the original chapel which stood on the spot, is the work of Ascanio Vitozzi.

Next to the Turin Cathedral stand the Palatine Towers, an ancient Roman-medieval structure that served as one of four Roman city gates along the city walls of Turin. This gate allowed access from north to the cardo maximus, the typical second main street of a Roman town. The Palatine Towers are among the best preserved Roman remains in northern Italy. Close to this site, the 51,300 m² (552,189 sq ft) Piazza della Repubblica plays host to the biggest open market in Europe, locally known as mercato di Porta Palazzo (Porta Palazzo or Porta Pila are the historical and local names of this area).

West of the Porte Palatine stands the Quadrilatero Romano (Roman Quadrilateral), the old medieval district recently renewed. The current neighbourhood is characterised by its tiny streets and its several medieval buildings and today it is popular for its aperitivo bars and its small shops run by local artisans. The hub of the Quadrilatero is Piazza Emanuele Filiberto.

South of the Quadrilatero Romano stands Via Garibaldi, another popular street of the city. It is a 1 km (0.6 mi) pedestrian street between Piazza Castello and Piazza Statuto which features some of the old shops of the city. Large Piazza Statuto is another example of Baroque square with arcades.

Another main street of downtown is Via Pietro Micca, which starts in Piazza Castello and ends in the large Piazza Solferino. The street continues in Via Cernaia up to Piazza XVIII Dicembre, which features the former Porta Susa passengers building, relocated in 2012 a little more southward. The new and larger passengers building is situated between Corso Bolzano and Corso Inghilterra and is an example of contemporary architecture, being a 300 m-long (980 ft) and 19 m-high (62 ft) glass and steel structure. Porta Susa is currently the international central station of the city (high speed trains to Paris) and it is becoming the central hub of railway transportation of the city, being the station in which local trains (so-called Ferrovie Metropolitane), national trains and high-speed national and international trains converge.

Close to Via Cernaia stands the Cittadella (Citadel), in the Andrea Guglielminetti garden. What remains of the old medieval and modern fortress of the city, it is a starting point for a tour into the old tunnels below the city.

Southeast of the city centre stands San Salvario district, which extends from Corso Vittorio Emanuele II to Corso Bramante and is delimited by the Turin-Genoa railway on the west side and by the River Po on the east side. Home to an increasing immigrants' community, the district is an example of integration among different cultures; it also features an incremented nightlife after the opening of several low-cost bars and restaurants.

San Salvario is crossed by two main roads, Via Nizza and Via Madama Cristina, and just as the city centre it is characterised by the grid plan typical of Turin's old neighbourhoods. The hub of the district is Piazza Madama Cristina which hosts a big open market, while several commercial activities flourish around it.

The celebrated Parco del Valentino is situated in the east side of San Salvario and, albeit not in downtown, it represents a type of central park of Turin. Thanks to the vicinity to the city centre, the park is very popular among the local people, during the day but also at night, because of the several bars and nightclubs placed here. From the terraces of Parco del Valentino, many sights of the hills on the other side of the river can be appreciated.

In the centre of the park stands the Castello del Valentino, built in the 17th century. This castle has a horseshoe shape, with four rectangular towers, one at each angle, and a wide inner court with a marble pavement. The ceilings of the false upper floors are in transalpino (i.e. French) style. The façade sports the huge coat of arms of the House of Savoy. Today, Castello del Valentino serves as the faculty of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Turin.

Another cluster of buildings in the park is the Borgo Medioevale (Medieval village), a replica of medieval mountain castles of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, built for the 1884 International Exhibition.

Other buildings in Corso Massimo d'Azeglio include the Torino Esposizioni complex (Turin's exhibition hall built in the 1930s) featuring a monumental entrance with a large full height porch, a main hall designed by Pier Luigi Nervi in reinforced concrete, and the Teatro Nuovo, a theatre mostly focused on ballet exhibitions. Another building is the largest synagogue of the city, in Piazzetta Primo Levi, a square. Its architecture stands in the main sight of the city, as characterised by four large towers—27 m (89 ft) high—topped by four onion-shaped domes.

South of Centro stands the Crocetta district, considered one of the most exclusive districts of the city, because of highly rated residential buildings. At the heart of the district is the partially pedestrianised area crossed by Corso Trieste, Corso Trento and Corso Duca D'Aosta, plenty of some notable residential buildings in eclectic, neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau style. The area was built between 1903 and 1937 replacing the old parade ground, which was moved in the southern part of the city.

North of this area stands the GAM (Galleria d'Arte Moderna), one of the two Museum of Modern Arts of the Turin Metro area (the second and largest one is hosted in Castello di Rivoli, a former Savoy royal castle in the suburbs). The museum stands in front a huge monument situated in the centre of the roundabout between Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Corso Galileo Ferraris: the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, a king of Savoy statue situated on a 39-metres high column. Next to the museum, another significant residential building previously hosted the head office of Juventus, one of the two main Turin football clubs.

West of this area, the main building of Polytechnic University of Turin stands along Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi. The 1958 building, a 122,000 m² (1,313,197 sq ft) complex, hosts approximately 30,000 students and is considered one of the major institutes of technology of the country—mainly due to the vocation of the city for the industrialisation, pushed by the automotive sector. This institute recently expanded in the western district of Cenisia with additional modern buildings.

Crocetta is crossed by large and modern avenues, such as Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, Corso Galileo Ferraris, and Corso Einaudi. These avenues feature long rows of trees, symbolic of Turin's typical urbanity. However, the most popular avenue is Corso De Gasperi, which, albeit smaller than other avenues of the district, hosts one of the most fashionable open markets of the city, the so-called Mercato della Crocetta, in which it is possible to find some discounted branded clothing among the more popular ones.

The Western border of Crocetta is instead an example of contemporary architecture. The huge avenue, made up of Corso Mediterraneo and Corso Castelfidardo, is part of Spina Centrale boulevard and was recently built over the old railway (now undergrounded): as a result, the avenue is very large (up to 60 m (200 ft)) and modern, having been rebuilt with valuable materials, including a characteristic lighting system supported by white high poles. This avenue hosts some examples of contemporary art, such as Mario Merz's Igloo fountain or the Per Kirkeby's Opera per Torino monument in Largo Orbassano.

The East side of the district is also known as Borgo San Secondo named after the church of the same name standing in Via San Secondo, a major street in the neighbourhood. This is near Porta Nuova railway station and is older than the rest of the district, featuring several apartment buildings from the late 19th century, to include the birthplace and home of author Primo Levi on Corso Re Umberto. A local open market is held in Piazza San Secondo and along Via Legnano. The market square also hosts the former washhouse and public baths of the neighbourhood, among the oldest examples of their kind in Turin (1905).

One of the main thoroughfares crossing Borgo San Secondo is Via Sacchi, which serves as an ideal gate to the city centre: its Serlian arcades on the west side of the street (the east side is enclosed by Porta Nuova railway station service buildings) host some significant boutiques and hotels, such as the historic Pfatisch pastry shop and the Turin Palace Hotel (totally refurbished and reopened in 2015). South of Via Sacchi, Ospedale Mauriziano is one of the ancient and major hospitals of the city. Going further southwards, it is possible to appreciate an interesting residential cluster of old public housing gravitating around Via Arquata.

Bordered by Corso Castelfidardo, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Corso Trapani and Corso Peschiera, this small district is mainly significant for hosting the recent expansion of Turinese institute of technology Politecnico. The expansion was possible after under-grounding the railway under Corso Castelfidardo and the subsequent disposal of the old buildings dedicated to the train maintenance present in this area (so-called Officine Grandi Riparazioni or OGR). Politecnico expanded its facilities through two huge overpass buildings over the avenue, linked to new buildings on the west side. This cluster of buildings forms an evocative square with a unique architectural style. The main building on the west side hosts a General Motors research centre, the General Motors Global Propulsion Systems (formerly known as General Motors Powertrain Europe). Politecnico area extends until Via Boggio with further facilities hosted in the former OGR facilities. The institute plans to further build new facilities in the current parking area.

North of Politecnico facilities, the main building of the OGR former cluster, which consists in three 180-metres long joint parallel buildings, became recently a big open space which hosts temporary exhibitions and during the hot seasons, its external spaces became a fashionable site to have a typical Italian aperitivo.

North of OGR, a former prison complex called Le Nuove is a significant example of old European prison building. The complex was built between 1857 and 1869 during the reign of Victor Emmanuel II. After being disposed of during the 1990s, the complex was changed into a museum and it is possible to visit its facilities.

An example of contemporary art is the heating plant in Corso Ferrucci, which has been covered with aluminium panels. Another building (19th century), now abandoned, is the former Westinghouse factory of train brakes situated in Via Borsellino.

The residential and business zone of the district sprawls westward, beyond the former—now demolished—customs wall (cinta daziaria), which previously separated the city from the mainly rural landscape that marked the outskirts of Turin until the late 19th century. Urban planning outside the local city gate (so-called barriera di San Paolo) led to the construction of an industrial and working-class neighbourhood in the early 20th century, although factories have long been discontinued, torn down or converted to other uses nowadays. Together with San Paolo district, Cenisia hosts an extensive street market along Corso Racconigi, which is locally known as the longest street market in Europe.

The smallest district of the city is Cit Turin ('Little Turin' in Piedmontese language). This small triangle surrounded by Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Corso Francia and Corso Inghilterra hosts some high rated residential buildings and is regarded as a prestigious residential neighbourhood by local people.

The district features many buildings in Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Neo-Gothic style. Among them, one of the most impressive and well known is the Casa della Vittoria (architect Gottardo Gussoni). Another notable example is Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur. Both buildings face Corso Francia.

The district is well known for its commercial vocation mainly in its two main streets, Via Duchessa Jolanda and Via Principi d'Acaja, ideally crossing each other among the gardens Giardino Luigi Martini, locally called Piazza Benefica, which hosts a popular open market.

The district is also characterised by two massive recent buildings: the Palazzo di Giustizia, Turin's new courthouse built in the 1990s (in a 350-metre-long facility), and the first real skyscraper of Turin, the Torre Intesa Sanpaolo, which house the headquarters of one of the major Italian private banks.

San Donato district is between Corso Francia, Corso Lecce, Corso Potenza, Via Nole, the Parco Dora and Corso Principe Oddone. It was populated since the medieval era, but becomes bigger during the 19th century, prospering around the canal Canale di San Donato, which does not exist anymore, currently replaced by the central street of the district, Via San Donato. Buildings in the district are relatively recent (around 1820), except for the oldest group of small houses in the Brusachœr neighbourhood (Palazzo Forneris building) along Via Pacinotti near the small Piazza Paravia. The conservation of the street and of this old building influences the straightness of Via San Donato, which makes a slight curve to result in parallel with Via Pacinotti before ending in central Piazza Statuto square.

Main church of the district is the Chiesa di Nostra Signora del Suffragio e Santa Zita, which with its 83 m (272 ft) height of its bell tower, is well known to be the fifth tallest structure in the city of Turin, after the Mole Antonelliana, the Intesa-Sanpaolo skyscraper, the Torre Littoria and the two pennons of the Juventus Stadium. The church is hosting the Istituto Suore Minime di Nostra Signora del Suffragio and it was promoted and designed by Francesco Faà di Bruno. The legend says, that he wanted to build the tallest bell tower of the town and put a clock on the top, to all the poor people to know the time for free. The small building near the church is what remains of Casa Tartaglino, a small residential building which was also extended and modified by Faa di Bruno.

Villino Cibrario in Via Saccarelli is another significant building designed by Barnaba Panizza in 1842. The building was equipped with a large garden which was eliminated to host the street. The neighbourhood has a high concentration of historic buildings in Art Nouveau style designed by architect Pietro Fenoglio (among the others, the prestigious Villino Raby in Corso Francia 8). Other significant buildings are the Villa Boringhieri in Via San Donato, and other Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic buildings are situated in Via Piffetti and Via Durandi.

Among the modern buildings of the district, the most significant one is, of course, the Torre BBPR Tower (which took the name from the architecture office who designed it). The building is representing the post-rationalism Italian architecture (same style of the better known Torre Velasca tower in the city of Milan). The tower is facing the central Piazza Statuto square. The district is crossed by some significant avenues: on Corso Svizzera, which crosses the district from north to south, faces the Business Centre Piero Della Francesca, where the offices of Tuttosport, one of the three national sports daily newspapers has its head offices. Also on Corso Svizzera, stands one of the oldest hospitals of the city, the Ospedale Amedeo di Savoia, specialised in infectious diseases. Other major avenues are Corso Umbria and Corso Tassoni.

Another big avenue, which borders the district on its East, is Corso Principe Oddone, which in the past was along the railway to Milan. Currently the railway has been under-grounded: the avenue will be enlarged and have same architecture style of southern Corso Inghilterra in downtown, becoming one of the major avenues of Turin. The northern part of the district was part of the former industrial district of Turin, recently reconverted to a park called Parco Dora. Mainly, in San Donato the portion reconverted was the one occupied by the plant of Michelin (west of Via Livorno) and Fiat ironwork plants (on the East). Differently for other portions of Parco Dora, this part has been totally reconverted to park without letting any evidence of the industrial area except for the cooling tower which stands along Corso Umbria and became a symbol of the park. Works are completed in the western area, where Corso Mortara has been closed to traffic and moved just a bit northern and covered by an artificial tunnel. It is possible to access the southern shore of the River Dora. South of the park, an interesting architecture of different levels is hosting a new shopping mall called Centro Commerciale Parco Dora. East of Via Livorno, works are still partially in progress, with the River Dora still to be uncovered by a big slab, on which the Fiat plants used to stand). West of Via Livorno, the Environment Park is a research centre for renewable energy.

Aurora is one of the most ancient districts which developed out of the medieval city walls, north of the historical city centre. It stretches from downtown northern boundaries in Corso Regina Margherita (an extended and important thoroughfare of Turin) up to Corso Vigevano and Corso Novara in the North Side (namely the old excise boundary until the early 20th century); the western boundary is Corso Principe Oddone (now part of the Spina Centrale boulevard) and the eastern border is the River Dora.

The district was named Aurora after the so-called Cascina Aurora, an old farmstead lying north of the River Dora, right at the intersection between Corso Giulio Cesare and Corso Emilia. The farmstead has long been demolished and the area has been converted to office buildings, hosting the Turinese textile company Gruppo Finanziario Tessile (GFT) headquarters until the early 21st century.

The historical hub of the district is Borgo Dora (The 'Dora Borough'), a small neighbourhood next to Porta Palazzo and enclosed by Corso Regina Margherita, Via Cigna, the River Dora and Corso Giulio Cesare. Once known as Borgo del Pallone ('Ball Borough') or Balon in Piedmontese dialect (locally [baˈlun]), this neighbourhood is famous for its mercatino del Balon or simply Balon, the Turinese flea market that opens every Saturday in its tiny and twisted streets. Borgo Dora hosts several remarkable places, such as: Piccola Casa della Divina Provvidenza ('Little House of the Divine Providence'), also known as Cottolengo, a well-known charitable organisation which has been operating for almost 200 years in the city; Arsenale della Pace ('Arsenal of Peace'), a former weapons factory that currently hosts the headquarters of SERMIG (Servizio Missionario Giovani), a nonprofit association which assists poor and homeless people; Caserma Cavalli ('Cavalli Barracks'), one of the most representative buildings of the district, a former barracks topped by a clock tower which now hosts Scuola Holden, a storytelling and performing arts school; the evocative Cortile del Maglio ('Mallet Courtyard'), a covered pedestrian area featuring bars and clubs. Across from Cortile del Maglio and Arsenale della Pace stands a wide pedestrian area which features a hot air balloon, a clear allusion to the neighbourhood's old name Balon: recently installed, the balloon is open to public which can now take an interesting view of the city from this new high observation point.

Right at the borders of Borgo Dora stands part of Porta Palazzo open market which hosts the New Exhibition Hall, designed by the Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. The building has replaced the Clothes Market, one of the four covered pavilions of Porta Palazzo market, but unfortunately, this glass green-shaded building has been highly criticised because of its lack of usability for commercial activities, albeit an example of contemporary architecture.

Another interesting building at the borders of the neighbourhood is Porta Milano (a.k.a. stazione della Ciriè-Lanzo), a former 19th-century railway station that marked the terminus of Ciriè-Lanzo railway line until the 1980s. To this day, the station is no longer in use as well as the rails up to Piazza Baldissera. The station building was recently renovated and now hosts some old locomotives, although it is not open to the public. Unfortunately, the old rails crossing the district are totally disused and neglected, adding decay to the whole area.

Borgo Dora, as many other pockets of Aurora, is characterised by the marked multi-ethnicity of its population, being home to a large community of immigrants from emerging countries.

West of Borgo Dora stands Rione Valdocco ('Valdocco neighbourhood'), enclosed by Via Cigna, Corso Regina Margherita, Corso Principe Oddone and the River Dora. This neighbourhood hosts the significant architecture of Santuario di Maria Ausiliatrice ('Maria Ausiliatrice Sanctuary') in the homonymous square and behind the church stands San Pietro in Vincoli old cemetery.

Overall, the main thoroughfares of the West side of Aurora are Via Cigna, which crosses the district from north to south, Corso Vercelli, a historical avenue starting north of the River Dora, and Corso Principe Oddone, part of the long Spina Centrale boulevard that will be built over the underground Turin-Milan railway. However, the Spina Centrale project is proceeding slowly because of the lack of funds and the boulevard is still occupied by a large worksite along its span. Once completed, Aurora district will be connected to Eastern San Donato, thanks to a better connection among the roads of the two adjacent districts (i.e. Corso Ciriè will continue in Corso Gamba and Strada del Fortino in Corso Rosai).

As for the rest of Aurora, the district is crossed by an important thoroughfare named Corso Giulio Cesare, a long boulevard that extends from Porta Palazzo up to Turin-Trieste motorway entrance in the northern urban fringe of Turin. Other significant roads are Corso Palermo, Via Bologna and Corso Regio Parco, mostly in the East side of Aurora which is known as Borgo Rossini ('Rossini Borough'). Albeit not a road, the River Dora is also a significant element for the whole district, since it completely crosses it from West to East.

The area north of the river features a mix of old residential buildings and remains of former factories and facilities from the 20th century. An example are the remains of Fiat Officine Grandi Motori (OGM) in Corso Vigevano, an old factory that produced big industrial and automotive Diesel engines, a sort of symbol of the industrial history of Turin. Another disused facility is Astanteria Martini ('Martini Emergency Department') in Via Cigna, a former emergency department from the 1920s which has been lying vacant since long.

As for the old residential buildings of the area, this part of Aurora hosts the oldest public housing block of the city, built by Istituto Autonomo Case Popolari (IACP) in 1908 in lieu of an old dilapidated small farm once known as Chiabotto delle Merle.

Despite its run-down look, the famous Lavazza coffee company, along with IAAD School of Design, chose this part of the city as the location for their new headquarters, which will be built in a contemporary building dubbed Nuvola ('Cloud') right at the borders of Borgo Rossini. Designed by the architect Gino Zucchi, this project is still a work in progress but excavations in the area revealed the remains of a medieval cemetery and an early Christian basilica; these findings will be preserved and will be shown to the public.

Borgo Rossini hosts a number of businesses, instance, the Robe di Kappa flagship store (Kappa is a noted Italian sportswear brand founded in Turin) and the Cineporto ('Cineport') a.k.a. La Casa dei Produttori ('The Filmmakers' House', which hosts the Turin Piedmont Film Commission Foundation).

Vanchiglia is bordered by Corso San Maurizio, Corso Regio Parco and the River Po, crossed also by the River Dora Riparia and by two big avenues, Corso Regina Margherita and Corso Tortona.

Borgo Vanchiglia is the historical district: a little triangle next to downtown, situated between Corso San Maurizio, Corso Regina Margherita and the River Po. The district is quite popular nowadays because being quite closer to the heart of Turin nightlife Piazza Vittorio Veneto, many bars and restaurants opened recently in this area. However, Vanchiglia also includes the area called Vanchiglietta, north of Borgo Vanchiglia.

Notable church in Borgo Vanchiglia is the French neo-Gothic Chiesa di Santa Giulia situated into Piazza Santa Giulia.

A notable and unusual building in the area is the so-called Fetta di Polenta (lit. 'polenta slice'), formerly known as Casa Scaccabarozzi. This building is where Corso San Maurizio meets Via Giulia di Barolo, and it is one of the most peculiar examples of Turin architecture: a thin trapezoid 27 m (89 ft) wide on Via Giulia Di Barolo, 5 m (16 ft) on Corso San Maurizio and just 0.70 m (2 ft 4 in) wide on the opposite end. It was designed in 1840 by Alessandro Antonelli for his wife, Francesca Scaccabarozzi. The curious name comes from the shape of the palace, which resembles a "slice of polenta", and also because it is painted with an ochre colour.

In the surroundings, in Via Vanchiglia 8 (although in downtown and not really in Vanchiglia anymore), there is another trapezoid house, albeit with less extreme design: similarly, this building is nicknamed Fetta di Formaggio (lit. 'cheese slice'), built in 1832 for the rich Marchese Birago di Vische by the architect Antonio Talentino.

Other notable buildings are the town public baths, eclectic building built in 1905 (Corso Regina Margherita crossing Via Vanchiglia), and the Teatro della Caduta theatre, opened in 2003 in Via Michele Buniva 23, which with its 45 seats is the smallest theatre in Turin and among the smallest theatres in Europe.

In Corso Regina Margherita, another notable building is the former Opera pia Reynero, a charitable organisation. The building was built in 1892. Being abandoned for a long time after it closed in 1996, it was then occupied by the Askatasuna Social Center, a non-profit anarchic organisation, hosting since then various activities such as concerts, dinners, seminars and homeless solidarity initiatives.

North of Corso Regina Margherita, district is losing the flavour and architecture typical of Turin downtown, cause a significant portion of the district was formerly occupied by factories, nowadays partially abandoned or replaced by modern buildings. A significant example was the area occupied by gas companies between Corso Regina Margherita and the River Dora, which were partially demolished to make place to the new modern Faculty of Law building (Campus "Luigi Einaudi"), designed by the architect Norman Foster. This building was classified by the American television company CNN among the 10 most spectacular university buildings in the world. In the campus courtyard, a large wood statue representing a bull (symbol of Turin) has been erected by Mario Ceroli. The area hosts also a student campus.

Next to the campus, a new cycling and pedestrian bridge on the River Dora was opened on 16 April 2010, linking the campus area to Corso Verona. Parco Colletta is a big park area touched by the two rivers of the district, which also hosts some sport facilities, mainly association football fields and a swimming pool.

The district is completed by the Cimitero Monumentale cemetery. This huge complex (formerly known as Cimitero Generale) is the largest cemetery in Turin, and among the first in Italy for the number of buried people (over 400,000). It is close to the Colletta park. The ancient part of the cemetery rises from the main entrance of Corso Novara with his octagonal shape. It contains numerous historical tombs and 12 km (7.5 mi) of arcades, enriched by artistic sculptures (that's why it is called a "monumental cemetery"). Over the years there have been subsequent extensions of the central historical body in the direction of the Colletta park. In the cemetery, there is a crematory temple built in 1882, one of the largest in Italy.

The Santuario della Consolata, a sanctuary much frequented by pilgrims, stands on the site of the 10th-century Monastery of St. Andrew, and is a work by Guarini. It was sumptuously restored in 1903. Outside the city are: the Basilica of Our Lady, Help of Christians built by St. John Bosco, the Gran Madre built in 1818 on occasion of the return of King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and Santa Maria del Monte (1583) on Monte dei Cappuccini.

In the hills overlooking the city, the Basilica of Superga provides a view of Turin against a backdrop of the snow-capped Alps. The basilica holds the tombs of many of the dukes of Savoy, as well as many of the kings of Sardinia. Superga can be reached by means of the Superga Rack Railway from Sassi suburb. The Basilica of Superga was built by Amadeus II of Savoy as an ex-voto for the liberation of Turin (1706), and served as a royal mausoleum since 1772.

Rosa Vercellana, commonly known as Rosina and, in Piedmontese as La Bela Rosin ('The Beautiful Rosin'), was the mistress and later wife of King Victor Emmanuel II. She was made Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda, but never Queen of Italy. As the Savoy family refused to allow her to be buried next to her husband in the Pantheon, her children had a mausoleum built for her in a similar form and on a smaller scale in Turin, next to the road to the Castello di Mirafiori. The circular copper-domed neoclassical monument, surmounted by a Latin cross and surrounded by a large park, was designed by Angelo Dimezzi and completed in 1888.

The most popular park in the city is Parco del Valentino. In 1961, during the celebrations of Italia61 (Italian unification centenary), an important international exhibition (FLOR61: Flowers of the world in Turin) took place in the park with 800 exhibitors from 19 countries. For the occasion the plan for the new lighting of the park, along with its fountains and paths, was assigned to Guido Chiarelli, the head engineer at the city hall.

Other large parks are Parco della Pellerina, Parco Colletta, Parco Rignon, Parco Colonnetti and the University botanical gardens. Around the city are several other parks such as La Mandria Regional Park and the Parco della Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, once hunting grounds of the Savoy, and those on the hills of Turin. Many parks are smaller, in the various districts: there is also a total of 240 playgrounds in these parks. In the early 1960s, mayor Amedeo Peyron had the first garden in Italy with games for children inaugurated. According to a Legambiente report from 2007, Turin is the first Italian city as far as structures and policies on childcare are concerned. One of the most famous parks featuring a children's playground is Parco della Tesoriera, which is also home to Andrea della Corte Municipal Music Library; this facility is housed in Villa Tesoriera, built in 1715 and once the Royal Treasurer's residence. The park is in the Parella suburb (Turin's West Side) and hosts many concerts in summer.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Turin

Turin grew into a major city in the early 1900s by shifting from services to industry, especially making cars and airplanes. Even though making cars became harder after the oil crisis in 1973, Turin still depends on this industry. Before World War II, car factories were the biggest employers in the city, and most things made there are sent to other countries. The famous Fiat car company started in Turin.

Since the 1980s, Turin has been changing back to focus more on services and new technology. The city is good at creating new tech companies and has many ideas for inventions. In 2008, Turin’s economy was worth about $68 billion, making it one of the richest cities in Europe. Many other companies work in Turin, making cars, airplanes, clothes, food, and more. The city also helps build parts for the International Space Station and works on future space projects.

Culture

Visual art and museums

Turin, once the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Italy, is home to many important buildings called Savoy Residences. Besides the 17th-century Royal Palace, built for a queen, there are many palaces, homes, and castles in the city and nearby towns. Turin has Palazzo Chiablese, the Royal Armoury, the Royal Library, Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano, Villa della Regina, and Valentino Castle. In 1997, these buildings were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. UNESCO also calls Turin a "Design City." Today, Turin is a popular place for tourists, ranking tenth in Italy for visitors.

The Egyptian Museum of Turin has one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian items outside of Egypt. The Museum of Oriental Art has important collections of Asian art. Other museums include the National Museum of Cinema, the Museum of the Automobile, the J-Museum, the Museum of Human Anatomy, the puppet museum, and the National Mountain Museum. Art museums include the Sabauda Gallery, the Civic Museum of Ancient Art, the Agnelli Art Gallery, the Albertina Academy, the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Diocesan Museum.

Music

Turin's main opera house is Teatro Regio di Torino, where a famous opera premiered in 1896. It was destroyed by fire in 1936 but rebuilt after World War II. In 2021, Turin was chosen to host a big music event in 2022 after Italy won a contest the year before.

Literature

Main article: Piedmontese literature

Turin has been a center for writers for many years. Famous writers include Giambattista Marino, Emanuele Tesauro, Alessandro Tassoni, Vittorio Alfieri, Guido Gozzano, Edmondo De Amicis, Emilio Salgari, and many more after World War II. Turin also has writers who use the local Piedmontese language.

Religion

The city is home to the famous Shroud of Turin: a cloth that shows the image of a man who looks like he suffered injuries similar to those from crucifixion. Many Christians believe it is a special image of Jesus. It is kept in a special chapel in the city and is one of Turin's most visited sites.

Science and technology

Turin had an observatory used by a scientist named Giovanni Plana. Another scientist, Amedeo Avogadro, worked as a teacher in Turin. Galileo Ferraris, a professor at Turin University, discovered how electric motors work in the 1800s.

Media

Main article: List of radio stations in Turin

After several other cities, Turin was chosen as a special city for books in 2006. The International Book Fair is a big event in Europe. Turin has Italy's main newspaper called La Stampa and a sports newspaper called Tuttosport. The city also has other newspapers and a television center that has been there since 1954.

Sport

Main article: Sports in Turin

Turin is known for its sports, especially football. Two big teams, Juventus FC and Torino FC, play there. Juventus is very successful and has many fans. Torino has strong support in the city. The two teams play against each other in a famous match called the Derby della Mole.

Juventus has won many titles and was the first club in the world to win all the top continental competitions and a world title. Their stadium, Juventus Stadium, opened in 2011 and has hosted important matches.

Torino FC was formed from older teams and was very successful in the 1940s. In 1949, a plane carrying most of the team crashed into a church in the hills near Turin. Torino now plays at Stadio Olimpico "Grande Torino," named after the team from the 1940s. The city also hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics and will host a special games event in 2025.

Cinema

Turin is where film coloring was first used in Italy, making it the birthplace of Italian cinema. Early Italian films were shown there, and a company called Ambrosio Film helped make Turin important for filmmaking. Today, Turin is still a key place for movies and television, with many films and shows made there.

Cuisine

The iconic gianduiotto chocolate

Bicerin chocolate drink served in its trademark rounded glass

Turin is famous for its chocolate, especially a special type called gianduiotto, named after a local character. The city is also known for bicerin, a hot drink made with espresso, chocolate, and milk. Every year, Turin holds a big chocolate festival called CioccolaTò.

Turin is also known for tramezzini, a type of sandwich first made in a downtown café in 1925. Another local drink is MoleCola, an Italian cola that became popular in 2012. The city has a special type of pizza called pizza al padellino, a small, thick-crust pizza. Since the 1980s, the area has been part of the Slow Food movement, which celebrates local food and farming.

Education

Turin is home to some of Italy's oldest and most respected universities, like the University of Turin and the Polytechnic University of Turin, which is known worldwide for its engineering and technology programs. The city also has many other schools and training centers, including international institutions.

In 2025, Turin will become the first city in Italy to have a special plan to promote understanding among different cultures and religions.

Transport

See also: Gruppo Torinese Trasporti, ToBike, and Turin Metro

Turin has many places where roads and railways are being built or fixed. Some of this work started before the 2006 Winter Olympics, but more began because of the Olympics. These projects will change the city a lot.

One big project is called Spina Centrale. It will double a main railway that goes through Turin, the Turin-Milan railway. Before, the railway was in a trench, but now a big road will be built over it. Porta Susa will become the main train station instead of Porta Nuova. Other important stations include Stura, Rebaudengo, Lingotto, and Madonna di Campagna.

Another big project is building a subway line using the VAL system, called Metrotorino. The first part of this subway opened in February 2006, just in time for the Olympics. It connects the town of Collegno to Porta Susa in Turin’s center. Later, the line was extended to Porta Nuova and then to Lingotto. More parts of the subway will be built soon, reaching places like Rivoli and Piazza Bengasi. There are also plans for a second subway line.

The main street in Turin’s center, Via Roma, has a tunnel underneath built a long time ago. This tunnel was meant for a subway, but now it is a parking garage. Plans for a subway were ready in the 1970s, but Turin decided not to build it because it was too expensive.

Turin has an international airport called Caselle International Airport Sandro Pertini, about 13 kilometers from the city center. You can get there by train or bus.

From 2010 to 2023, Turin had a bicycle sharing system called ToBike.

The city’s trains, trams, and buses help people get around.

Public transportation statistics

People in Turin spend about 65 minutes each day using public transportation to go to work or other places. Some people spend more than two hours a day on public transit. On average, people wait about 14 minutes for a bus, tram, or train, but some wait more than 20 minutes. Most trips are about 5.9 kilometers long, but some people travel more than 12 kilometers in one trip.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Turin

Turin has been home to many famous people throughout history. These individuals have made important contributions in areas such as art, science, sports, and more. The city continues to attract talented people from around the world.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Turin has friendly partnerships with many cities around the world. Some of these partners include:

• Chambéry, France
• Cologne, Germany
• Córdoba, Argentina
• Detroit, United States
• Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
• Gaza City, Palestine
• Glasgow, Scotland
• Liège, Belgium
• Lille, France
• Nagoya, Japan
• Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
• Rosario, Argentina
• Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Salt Lake City, United States
• Shenyang, China

The sixth district of Turin also has a partnership with:

• Bagneux, France

Turin also works together with many other cities, such as:

• Bacău, Romania
• Barcelona, Spain
• Bethlehem, Palestine
• Campo Grande, Brazil
• Cannes, France
• Fortaleza, Brazil
• Haifa, Israel
• Harbin, China
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Kharkhorin, Mongolia
• Lyon, France
• Marseille, France
• Nantes, France
• Nice, France
• Praia, Cape Verde
• Rosario, Argentina
• Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Salvador, Brazil
• Skopje, North Macedonia
• Shenzhen, China
• Yangon, Myanmar
• Yekaterinburg, Russia
• Zlín, Czech Republic