2. 2
Elegant and aristocratic, versatile and dynamic, Turin is much more
than the sum of its monuments: a city with art, culture and ideas, a
large part of its appeal lies in its enchanting geographic position at the
foot of the western Alpine arch, watched over by the snow-capped
peaks.
Italy's first capital offers incomparable vistas in the town centre streets
and the long colonnaded boulevards, balanced between the measured
sumptuousness of Piedmont Baroque and the rational Roman town
planning.
3. 3
HISTORY
In the first century BC (probably 28 BC), the Romans created a military
camp (Castra Taurinorum), later dedicated to Augustus (Augusta
Taurinorum). The typical Roman street grid can still be seen in the modern
city. Turin reached about 5,000 inhabitants at the time, all living inside the
high walls.
After the fall of the Roman Empire the
town was conquered by the Lombards,
then the Franks of Charlemagne (773).
The Contea di Torino (or countship) was
founded in the 940s, which was held by
the Arduinic dynasty until 1050 then the
family of the Counts of Savoy gained
control.
At the end of the thirteenth century, when
it was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy, the
city already had 20,000 inhabitants.
Many of the gardens and palaces were
built in the fifteenth century when the city
was redesigned. The University of Turin
was also founded during this period.
Valentino Castle – Site of
University of Architecture
4. 4
Emmanuel Philibert (Iron Head) made Turin the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in
1563. Piazza Reale, today named Piazza San Carlo and Via Nuova, today called
Via Roma were added with the first enlargement of the walls, in the first half of
the 17th century; in the same period the Royal palace (Palazzo Reale) was built.
In 1706, during the Battle of Turin, the French besieged the city for 117 days
without conquering it. After the subsequent Treaty of Utrecht, the Kingdom of
Sardinia was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy and the architect Filippo Juvarra
began a major redesign of the city. Now the capital of a European kingdom, Turin
had about 90,000 inhabitants at the time
The Royal Palace
San Carlo Square
5. 5
Turin, like the rest of Piedmont, was annexed by France in September 1802.
At the fall of Napoleon in 1814, when the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia was
restored with Turin as its capital. After 1814, Piedmont-Sardinia began to
actively pursue the unification of Italy. In 1871, the Fréjus Tunnel was
opened, making Turin an important communication node between Italy and
France. The city in that period had 250,000 inhabitants.
The River PO
6. 6
Some of the most iconic landmarks of the city, like the Egyptian Museum,
the Mole Antonelliana, the Gran Madre di Dio Church were built in this
period. In 1861, Turin became the capital of the newly proclaimed United
Italy. In 1865 the capital was moved to Florence. (Since 8 July 1871, the
capital has been Rome.) Turin reacted to the loss of importance by
beginning a rapid industrialisation: in 1899 Fiat was founded and Lancia
in 1906.
A view of
Turin in the
late 19th
century. In
the
background,
the Mole
Antonelliana
under
construction
7. 7
After World War I, Turin became a major industrial centre during the first
part of the 20th century thanks mainly to the automotive industry, insomuch
that the city gained the nickname of Automobile Capital.
In 2006, Turin hosted the Winter Olympic Games.
“Passion
Lives Here”,
motto of
Turin 2006
Winter
Olympics
8. 8
The Mole Antonelliana is a major
landmark of Turin. It is named after
the architect who built it,
Alessandro Antonelli. Its
construction began in 1863 and was
completed 26 years later, after the
architect's death. Today it houses
the National Museum of Cinema,
and it is believed to be the tallest
museum in the world.
The building was conceived and
constructed as a synagogue, then
the city bought it. With its 167
metres height, it is Torino‟s symbol.
Panoramic lift inside the Mole
