1. TORINO - the capital ‘at the foot of the mountains’
Itis Pininfarina

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. Valentino Castle – Site of University of Architecture
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. Emmanuel Philibert (Iron Head) made Turin the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in 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
San Carlo Square
The Royal Palace

5. The River PO
Turin, like the rest of Piedmont, was annexed by France in September 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.

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. In 2006, Turin hosted the Winter Olympic Games.
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.
“Passion Lives Here”, motto of Turin 2006 Winter Olympics
In 2006, Turin hosted the Winter Olympic Games.

8. The Mole Antonelliana is a major landmark of Turin
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

9. Palace of Venaria Reale: gardens and the Alps

10. Venaria reale, one of the Royal Residences that have received the denomination as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

11. Bibliography:
Text page 1,2:
Text page 3-8:
Images page 1, 2, 3, 4, 7: "Tratto dal sito
Image page 7: “passion lives here”
Images page 8:
Images page 9,10,11: personal pictures