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SEE TURIN (TORINO)

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HOUSE OF SAVOY
SEE TURIN TOWN
OUT OF TOWN

You can begin to taste Turin's fresh fruits and vegetables just looking at the landscape.
Turin in the springtime.

Turin (Torino) starts as a sleepy outpost at the edge of Italy. Then it becomes the capital of Italy. Today, it is the capital of the Piedmont region.

To the north and west of the city are the Alps. Once forming the eastern boundary of the town is the  Po River. It is now in the middle of town. There are now more than two million citizens in the Turin area.

It is possible that the Romans establish a colony in 27 BC which they call Castra Taurinorum.

The settlement does not appear in historical documents until around 9 B.C. when they rename it Julia Augusta Taurinorum.

It oversees a critical position to one of the passes through the Alps.

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House of Savoy

Turin remains under the Romans until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. For the next 300 years, they have a  list of conquers including the Germanic Heruli, Ostrogoths, Romans, and the Lombards.

In 773, the whole area falls to the Germanic Franks and their leader, Charlemagne.

But the most influential group will govern Turin from 1861 to 1946. They are the House of Savoy.

Soon they grow into Italy.The Savoy kingdom begins in Haute Savoy province of France.

The Count of Savoy receives the title and some land to govern in 1003 A.D. The land is at either end of strategic passes through the Alps. This “reward” gives the Savoys almost absolute control over trade between Italy and Western Europe for the next several centuries.

With their unlimited wealth, they marry into “the” influential families in the area, collecting real estate as they go. Eventually, they will have 22 castles, palaces, and hunting lodges.

How they must have suffered in this little place.
Castello del Valentino was the first Savoy residence until they could refurbish something larger.

 

It is currently home to the Castello di Rivoli – Museo d'Arte Contemporanea
Castle of Rivoli – now the Museum of Contemporary Art.

 

Birth place of the first king of Italy.
The front of Palazzo Carignano. Here you can see the Apartments of the Princes of Carignano.

 

From here, the Savoys could look over the entire town.
Across the river is the Villa della Regina

 

Today, the insides are only open for special events.
Castello Reale di Moncalieri also overlooks the river. When built, it was out of town.

 

When the Kingdom acquires the Area of Rome, they will move the capital.
The First Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Italy.

 

It will become that home of the Queen mother.
Adjacent is the Palazzo Madama, the previous Royal Palace now houses the Civic Museum of Ancient Art.

 

There is no doubt that the House of Savoy is responsible for much of Turin’s architecture, but there are other sites as well.

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See Turin’s Other Sites.

In 2006, Turin hosts the XX Olympic Winter Games. (Torino 2006.) This worldwide event brings a much-needed boost to tourism.

The Savoys made it just the kind of town they would want to live in.
The Piazza San Carlos – A grand plaza for a Grande city

 

Old and new are mixing in a very attractive way.
1900s Fiat Building and a 21st-century building

 

Most of the Roman structures get recycled for their building materials.
A Roman road from the 1st century B.C.

 

Not a lot of Roman Turin remains as it was recycled for newer buildings
Porta Pallentina circa 100 B.C.

 

Torino has culture, castles and cuisine.
The dome of The Mola towers over Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

 

Expect to see more locals than tourists here.
Piazza San Carlos – coffee, conversations, and chocolate.

 

It is the third busiest in Italy.
The 1864 Torino Porta Nuova railway station still receives over 350 trains a day.

 

One of Torino's outdoor living rooms.
Piazza Vittorio Veneto getting ready for the day.

 

The Savoys ruled from here for hundreds of years.
Piazza Castello is the center of Turin.

Just strolling the wide arcades, stopping for fresh chocolate, or a glass of local wine will make you fall in love with Turin.

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See Turin Outside the City.

Many of the sites outside of the city are weekend homes for the House of Savoy. Overnight parties for more than 100 guests are typical.

Do not miss the royal stables.
The Palace of Venaria is a series of buildings. It is NW of town.

 

It was built to impress people. It worked.
Palazzina di Caccia of Stupinigi is over the top.

 

It sits in the center of town so its hard to miss. See Turin residences, but dont miss the ones in the country.
The Royal Castle of Racconigi is approximately 30 minutes drive from Stupinigi.

 

University of Gastronomic Sciences is protecting old ways and products from disappearing.
The Royal Castle of Pollenzo is now home to the Slow Food University.

 

Other Sites Outside of Turin

Very few tourists find this. See Turin, but get out of town as well.
The ancient upper Town in Biella

 

Rivers flowing from the Alps crisscross many of the towns
If you are going to be in the area, Ivrea deserves a look.

 

Similar to Como, which is not far to the east.
The scenery around Orta San Giulio, Verbano Cusio and Ossola is breath-taking

 

Wine tasting and the corkscrew museum are highlights. See Turin, but see the country.
The charming wine village of Barolo.

 

And it is lovely at night, after a day of vineyard visits.
The town of Bra is within proximity to a host of wineries and wine towns.

 

It also makes a great base for multiple day visits.
Asti is also the center of several Piedmont DOCs

 

See Turin Summary

How did a place this captivating avoid your radar? You can see Turin has so much to offer. And that’s just in the town.

Nearby are wineries, lakes, mountains, and valleys to explore.

Day trips to Bra, Alba, Asti, Alessandria, Ivrea, or the Alps are all very do-able.

Plan a few days to see Turin and all that it has to offer. It is a wonderful corner of Italy.

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