WELCOME TO TORINO! The first capital of Italy

WELCOME TO TORINO!
The first capital of Italy
The place we chose for the workshop, the Jolly Hotel Ligure is located downtown, opposite the
railway station of Porta Nuova, in the heart of the historic center of Turin.
During lunch or late afternoon so you can easily walk
around downtown, admiring the beauty of the city: its
baroque palaces and Art
Nouveau, its large and
elegant squares surrounded
by arcades, historic
buildings like the Royal
Palace, Palazzo Madama
and Palazzo Carignano
(where the Constitution was
signed), museums (first of all the Egyptian Museum), or reach the river Po and his Valentino Park.
Moreover, for shoppers, the downtown streets are full of shops
offering items from the brands exclusive to more affordable to all
pockets!
For a break for refreshments you will find numerous bars, cafes,
Cremer, restaurants and pizzerias.
Do not miss the historic cafes such as Cafe Torino in Piazza San Carlo and Baratti & Milano in
Piazza Castello, where one breathes the atmosphere of Turin ‘800, and the Gelateria Fiorio, in Via
Po, where you can enjoy the best ice cream chocolate (or gianduja) you've ever eaten!
Turin has very much to offer to its visitors and is difficult to describe the beauty in
a few lines ... Here we give only a few small suggestions and recommendations ...
Read more you can visit this website:
http://www.comune.torino.it/torinoplus/english/
The historic cafés
The tourist who arrives in Turin was fascinated to find several cafes and other historical epoch.
In fact, the coffee is mostly in Turin century, survives and thrives as a testimony of its tradition
which emphasizes the historical and cultural vocation of the capital of Piedmont.
This feature can be seen today in some of his old rooms such as: Al Bicerin, Baratti, Fiorio, Platti,
San Carlo, Turin, Mulassano, Il Cambio and San Giorgio Restaurant (in Valentino Park).
Within the walls of these famous coffee from a sip of liquor or accompanied by the delicious cakes
or simple coffee, politicians of the past discussed the fate of the kingdom of Savoy, the artists take
notes and the rich bourgeoisie time to discuss business.
To this day, these historic cafés are a part of the custom and culture of the city, an obligatory stop to
taste local pastry specialties in a unique atmosphere of elegance and style.
Just to mention briefly some birth order:
Caffè confetteria Al Bicerin
Situated on the square of the Consolata Sanctuary was
born in 1763, the local of great historical value to us has
come exactly as it was then.
Here was served for the first time the Bicerin (delicious
hot drink made from coffee and chocolate, much loved
by Count Cavour). That tradition was not lost and still
can, here and in many places not even Turin's city center,
enjoy this drink.
Caffè gelateria Fiorio
Placed under the arcades of Via Po was born in 1780, was
the most aristocratic noble goal in Turin, diplomats and
intellectuals. They called him the tails of coffee and
Machiavelli. It was the forge of public opinion in Turin, so
that they used to say: what is said to Fiorio?
Caffè Torino
Placed under the arcades of Piazza San Carlo was inaugurated in 1903, is
the elegant drawing room where the whole city well in the past and today
is focused and addresses. It has always been synonymous with elegance
and impeccable service.
Caffè Platti
On Corso Vittorio Emanuele, was open by 1870.
Coffee, near the prestigious high school d'Azeglio, had among its loyal customers even the Senator
Giovanni Agnelli, the founder of Fiat, Cesare Pavese and Luigi
Einaudi.
Caffè confetteria Baratti
Situated among the Subalpine Gallery and Piazza Castello, was
opened in 1875 by Edward Ferdinando Baratti and Milano, the
elegant restaurant is distinguished for its class just enough to get the
coveted title of Manufacturer of the Royal House.
Caffè Mulassano
Under the arcades of Piazza Castello to the Via Po, was opened in
1907. It is a particularly valuable and friendly place, rich in marble,
bronze and floral with a coffered ceiling. Meeting place was in the years of the Royal House of the
Court of notables and artists from the nearby Teatro Regio.
NOTES ON ARCHITECTURE, MONUMENTS
AND MUSEUMS OF TURIN
The architecture of Turin is best known for its great
Baroque Savoy residences, but in the late '800 and early
'900 was also great development style called Art Nouveau
or Floral, best known internationally as Art Nouveau, so
that still it is considered the Italian capital.
THE MOLE ANTONELLIANA
The Mole Antonelliana is the symbol of Turin. The tower's
composite, classical style contrasts with its verticalism.
Until a few years ago it was the highest stone building in
Europe (167.50 metres). The Mole was built in 1863,
designed by Alessandro Antonelli, like Synagogue, then
become the house of the Museo del Risorgimento, and now
it's the site of the new National Cinema Museum.
A panoramic elevator (service operated by Gruppo Torinese
Trasporti GTT ) provides access to the spire in the year.
THE NATIONAL CINEMA MUSEUM
Since July 2000, the National Cinema Museum is open to the public landmark in the city of Turin,
the Mole. The exhibition has a total area of 3,200 square meters and is divided into five levels: the
Archaeology of the Cinema, Film Machine, a collection of posters, video installations and the Great
Hall of the Temple.
And yet it’s not a museum. At least not in the traditional sense of the term. Those of you who have
already visited it understand what we mean. And those of you who are planning on visiting it will
be surprised to discover what a special and unique place it is.
The Museum is one of the most important of its kind in the world thanks to it vast collection and
the many different scientific and educational activities it carries out. But what makes it truly unique
is its special exhibit setup.
The museum offers, in a spectacular setting, the objects of the rich collection of Fondazione Maria
Adriana Prolo: magic lanterns, optical boxes, photographs, drawings, sketches and many other
curious objects.
Via Montebello, 10 – Torino -phone 011 / 8138560-61
Email [email protected]
website www.museocinema.it
PALAZZO REALE (ROYAL PALACE)
Located in the centre of Turin, the Royal Castle was
commissioned by the First Royal Madam Christine of
France, the wife of Vittorio Amedeo I, and it was home
to the Dukes of Savoy first, who would later become the
Kings of Sardinia, and then the Kings of Italy.
Visitors can access the three floors that house the royal
apartments, richly furnished and decorated by
paintings, tapestries, furniture, and china illustrating
the taste of the 1600s to the 1800s, as conceived by the
court architects Filippo Juvarra, Benedetto Alfieri, and
Pelagio Palagi.
In the Royal Gardens, designed at the end of the 17th century by Le Notre, the architect who also
designed the gardens of Versailles, statues and vases decorate the fountains and the flowerbeds.
PALAZZO MADAMA
Palazzo Madama stands in the centre of Castle
Square. The history of the Palace reflects the history
of the city. Infact its baroque facade contrasts sharply
with older medieval parts to lend the building a most
unorthodox apparence. The palace incorporate parts
of ancient Roman gate, wich was converted into a
castle in the Middle Ages. In the 17th century it
became the residence of the Madama Reale (Royal
Widow). In 1721 Filippo Juvarra enbellish the palace
with a splendid baroque facade. The Palace housed the work of Subalpine and Italian Senate from
1848 to 1864. Today, it's used like Civic Ancient Art Museum (Museo Civico di Arte Antica).
The Royal Residences in Piedmont
The Royal Residences of Piedmont, declared part of UNESCO’s World Heritage, represent a
system of Palaces and Estates open to visitors, some of which are fully restored while others are
undergoing renovation. Since 1997 the Regional Government has invested considerable financial
and professional resources in the challenging project to promote the Royal Residences.
The Royal Residences and their characteristics make them invaluable cultural and tourist assets on
the international scene. They are a treasure trove of prestigious works of art (paintings, furniture,
tapestries, sculptures, and furnishings), unique architectures and settings, historical gardens, vast
parks, and suggestive natural and environmental scenarios. They are tightly bound in their
architecture and environmental layout to nearby towns and villages and they bear witness to crucial
passages in the process of the Italian unification.
PALAZZO CARIGNANO
Palazzo Carignano is one of the Guarini's most original
creations. It was built in 1679-1685 with an undulating
baroque facade, a majestic atrium and a lovely gardens. The
Palace of the Savoy - Carignano line has staged many of the
most important events in the history of Italy and Piedmont. The
Palace was the seat of the first Italian parliament, now
houses the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento.
MUSEO EGIZIO EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
It is one of the most important collections in the world after
Cairo.
Founded in 1824 by Carlo Felice with the acquisition of the
collection of the French consul in Egypt, the Piedmont Drovetti
Bernardino, and later enriched by Ernesto Schiaparelli excavations,
the museum has about 30,000 pieces and documents the history
and civilization of Egypt , the Coptic Paleolithic era, with unique
and complete collection of art objects and everyday and funeral
(including the Table of Isis, the canvas painted Gebelein, the
intact tomb of Kha and Merit, the outstanding Temple Rock of
Ellesjia, pads Zoser).
Via Accademia delle Scienze, 6 - Torino
phone 011 / 5617776
e-mail [email protected]
website www.museoegizio.it/
PUPPET MUSEUM
A world of curiosities Miniature, suspended between play
and the magic of theater is the kingdom of puppets is
housed in the Theatre-Museum Gianduja.
The valuable collection of Lupi family, accumulated in
200 years of its activity, has over 5000 items including
hundreds of puppets, costumes and furniture 800.
Via Santa Teresa 5 – Torino - phone 011 / 530238
THE CATHEDRAL AND THE HOLY
SHROUD
The Cathedral is Turin's only example of
Renaissance architecture. It was built in 1498 and
dedicated to John the Baptist. The Chapel of Holy
Shroud was added in 1668-1694. Alongside the
Cathedral it's possible to admire the romanesque
campanile (1470).
The PORTE PALATINE
Porta Palatina is the most conspicuos parts of Roman
walls towers. during the Middle Ages, the fortress was
called "Palatium", hence its present name. On Via XX
Settembre, some of the ruins of Roman Theatre, near the
basement of the Royal Palace.
TEATRO CARIGNANO (Carignano Theater)
The Teatro Carignano is one of the most important
theaters in Turin. Owned by the city, is the theater in
which the king went to see the comedy (as opposed to
the Theatre Royal, which was the opera house). It was
built by the Prince of Carignano in the late
seventeenth century. In 1752 was rebuilt in masonry
designed by Benedetto Alfieri, who few years earlier
had designed the Theatre Royal. It is managed by the
foundation of the Teatro Stabile of Turin.
It is structured in two parts: the stalls and boxes. The
main stage was Royal.
The theater is located in Piazza Carignano, in front of the homonymous palace.
Gran Madre di Dio
The Gran Madre di Dio, or "Great Mother of God", was
built in 1831 to commemorate the return of the Savoy
following French occupation in 1814. Note that it is
dedicated not to Mary but to the Great Mother of God .
This is considered an esoteric point of greatest interest for
the city or of white magic, esoteric worthy of considerable
interest are the two statues placed beside the great staircase
that represent Faith and Religion: the left one in particular,
Faith, holding a cup and look seems to indicate the direction
where the mythical Grail and intangible should be kept in Turin. –
Basilica di Superga
The Basilica of Superga was commisioned by Amedeo II
of Savoy: it was designed by Filippo Juvarra in 1717 and
completed in 1731. It was built to fulfil a vow made to the
Virgin Mary - to whom a chapel is dedicated on the hill by the Duke on the eve of his victory over the French,
who were besieging the city, on september 1706. In the
cript is possible to visit part of Savoy dinasty tombs.
A curiosity: a nice old track railway from Sassi will
take you up to the hill of Superga, where you can enjoy
one of the finest views visible from the hills of Turin.
The Parco del Valentino and Borgo e Rocca Medioevale
Parco del Valentino. This celebrated park extends along the
left bank of the river Po at the foot of the hills, between the
King Umberto I and Princess Isabella bridges. It is very close
to the centre of town, and about one kilometre from the Porta
Nuova main railway station.
The Castle of Valentino
It is no doubt the whole park's most famous building. Its origins
date from the early 26th Century. Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy
acquired it in 1564. Later Carlo Emanuele I (the Iron Head's son)
bequeathed it to Marie Christine of France (the Madama Reale)
who used it as her favourite residence and lived there at length
with her court.
Medieval Castle and Village
This magnificent complex consists of the Medieval Village
and the fortified Stronghold or Castle. It rises close to the
Principessa Isabella bridge and is also accessed by a boat
service from the Murazzi. Its crenellated walls, manytowered castle, drawbridge, fortified houses, narrow streets
and lively artisan shops are a faithful replica of a 15th
Century Village.
It was built for the 1884 Turin International Exhibition
mostly on designs by the eclectic Alfredo d'Andrade, a
naturalised Italian Portuguese artist, a great connoisseur of the Piedmontese Middle Ages and
restorer of many castles and abbeys in Piedmont.
The castle is an exact replica of the Castle of Fenis (Aosta Valley), and the village is similar to a
Piedmont medieval little township.
Reggia di Venaria
This grand hunting estate was commissioned by Carlo Emanuele II and construction works began in
1658 on a project by Amedeo di Castellamonte.
In 1999 the Regional Government and the Italian Ministry for Culture in cooperation with the
European Union put in place a comprehensive renovation project to bring the estate back to life, in
full respect of its original architecture while adopting modern solutions in line with current
standards.
The complex of La Venaria Reale is a unique environmental and architectural continuum of
extraordinary charm, a boundless, varied, spectacular estate where the visitor is inevitably
enveloped by magical atmospheres in a context of cultural attractions and multiple leisure pursuits.
The complex consists of:
•
•
The Reggia
The Gardens
•
•
The Old Town Centre
Juvarra's Stables
The renovated Reggia was inaugurated in 2007 and currently the Reggia hosts many exhibitions and
cultural events:
In addition to Royal Diadems and Jewellery. Masterpieces of Italian Goldsmiths for the Savoy
Court. and Knights. From the Templars to Napoleon. Stories of Crusaders, soldiers, gentlemen of
the court that will extend into 2010, the calendar of events includes:
LE MACCHINE DELLA MERAVIGLIA. LANTERNE MAGICHE E FILM DIPINTO. 400 ANNI
DI CINEMA
The Reggia di Venaria will host, from July 21 to November 7, and in ten different areas, an
exhibition illustrating the main themes of magic lantern shows of the past.
The ten areas of the exhibition Magic lantern and painted film. Four centuries of cinema (July 20
- November 7, 2010) illustrate the following ten themes: daily life; journeys; tales and legends;
religion and esotericism; science and education; art and entertainment; eroticism; the world turned
upside down; ghosts; abstract art.
The exhibition, launched in Paris on October 12, 2009, is co-produced by Cinémathèque française
and Museo Nazionale del Cinema – two of the world’s richest and best collections of magic
lantern glasses.
Address
Piazza della Repubblica, 4 - Venaria Reale (Turin)
tel. +39 011 4992333
TASTE AND.. GLUTTONY...
The Giandujotto, chocolates, candies, nougat and pastries famous Turin
Turin with over 400 laboratories is also famous for its pastries fresh
and dried.
Also too numerous to mention briefly the many specialty shop in
Turin, is true for all the profiteroles (cream puffs), especially those
small, scented cream filling and covered with colored icing and
cake Giandujada the town, made with hazelnut and almond paste
with casting Giandujotto coated and decorations.
Speaking pastries, in addition to zabaglione, can not be forgotten
the nougat, hazelnut and almond cake low (type Galup), cookies in
Novara, Amaretti, the torcetti and marron glacé.
Even ice cream (which, although not a typical product of Turin)
Turin gave something to the greed of the world: the ice cream shop
in Piazza Carignano Peppino founded in 1884, came out in 1937
the first ice-covered walking, namely the penguins.
The gastronomic tradition
Good eating and drinking are two more pleasant activities in Turin and Piedmont are
traditionally held in high esteem
One of the world’s richest cuisine can be found at the table:
breadsticks, agnolotti stuffed pasta, the bagna caoda dip, boiled
meats, cheese, the very precious truffle: all of which are
accompanied by great red wines from the Piemonte region such
as Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera.
Marvellous white wines can be added to the list: from
Spumante to Arneis, from Moscato (Muscat) to the precious
Passiti (raisin wines). And to top it off, coffee, an Italian
excellence that artisan laboratories and large Torino-based
manufacturers have been capable of developing fully.
All of these flavours – along with the others – are celebrated every two years at the world’s largest
food and wine event that has chosen Torino as its Headquarters: the Salone del Gusto organised by
Slow Food, the Piemonte-based association that has been capable of popularising the passion for
flavour, good taste and quality of life all over the globe. The
Salone has a sister event, Terra Madre, that is a world encounter
of the food community: a unique event – that has brought more
than 7,000 people to Torino such as chefs, breeders, peasants and
farmers in representation of 1,500 food communities and over
200 universities – created to bring about dialogue among farmers
from all over the world.
The founding of Eataly, Italy’s first flavour mega-store, is also
recent. Built in the area of historical Carpano plants, next to the
Lingotto: it is an authentic “wine and food city”, a result of a collaboration with Slow Food.
In Torino, food is not only flavours, but first and foremost a matter of culture!
Markets
There are more than 60 outdoor markets in which to look around, discover items from the past,
become immersed in an atmosphere that is filled with colour: Torino natives are passionate about
shopping “en plein air” and they find what they need in quantity and variety in these markets.
Some major areas of attraction are Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest outdoor market. Balôn at Borgo
Dora, a gigantic flea market that also features antiques, open every Saturday and the second Sunday
of each month is a destination that cannot be missed for anyone who wishes to get acquainted with
one of Torino’s most charming facets.
Along with these, there is also a series of trade fairs, markets and street markets that are open in
Torino all year round.
For the Shoppers, Essential to make a visit to the trendy market in Turin, the market
Crocetta !
http://www.comune.torino.it/torinoplus/english/viveretorino/mercati/mercatimercatini/index.shtml
TORINO BY NIGHT
Torino has a new queen: the Night. Entire districts have been reborn to offer a thousand occasions
to get together, dance and stay out late: the Quadrilatero
Romano, for instance, is an historic centre filled with
ancient charm that has now become the ideal place for
those who enjoy quality pleasures: restaurants, wine
bars, wine cellars and many other kinds of places that
present an opportunity to combine culinary tradition
with specialties from all over the world.
The nearby districts of Borgo Dora and Porta Palazzo,
market places by day and increasingly more creative
and hot spots by night; the area, with its many
restaurants and meeting places, fully expresses the multi-cultured and multi-ethnic features so
characteristic of Torino.
The Murazzi arcades along the Po river were once used to park boats. Today it is one of the crucial
points of Torino night life: when night
falls, Murazzi lights a desire for a good
time with the many offers to spend an
evening enjoying live music and DJ sets in
the clubs and bars along the river.
Lastly, even the most traditional section of
the city is accustomed to welcoming guests
and tourists, experiencing it at any hour of
the day or night: piazza Castello, piazza San Carlo, piazza
Vittorio Veneto and piazza Bodoni are now splendid pedestrian outdoor salons open to everyone among monuments and cafés with
outdoor areas.
TURIN, MAGIC CITY
Turin is considered worldwide magical city because of various factors, including many sculptures
symbolic (roses, dragons, masks, dogs, lions) located in various parts of the city, and by finding the
intersection of two rivers, the Po and Dora Riparia, which represent the Sun and the Moon, but
would especially meeting point of several lines synchronic (or very irregular grid of lines or
channels of energy received by esoteric go through the world of which science does not know how
to explain but that even in ancient times the Chinese called "back of the dragon") that is in Turin as
a geographical location in the world like few others.
They say that Turin is connected in a magic triangle with the cities of Lyon and Prague.
http://www.comune.torino.it/canaleturismo/it/curiosare/magica.htm
Tourist information
www.turismotorino.org
www.yestorinohotel.it
http://www.comune.torino.it/canaleturismo/