PIEDMONT IS AN ATTRACTIVE AND UNUSUAL DESTINATION, CROWNED BY HILLS AND THE

PEAKS OF THE ALPS WITH A NUMBER OF SMALL, RICH TOWNS.

THE ALPINE CHAIN WHICH CROWNS OUR REGION ALSO PROVIDES

2,000 KM OF SKI SLOPES WHICH WERETHE SEAT OF THE 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS

LYING IN THE NORTH-WEST OF ITALY, PIEDMONT IS A LAND OF NATURE, WINE, FOOD, CULTURE, ART

AND HISTORY.

Sacra di San Michele

WE HAVE LANDSCAPES OF MOUNTAINS, HILLS, LAKES, CASTLES, SANCTUARIES AND

ABBEYS.

Turin

  

Turin is the capital city of Piedmont and one of the least known Italian cities.When you say Turin, people think of an industrial, grey, smoggy,

uninteresting town.One thinks of FIAT or Juventus, but Turin is also the capital of Baroque; there are about 50 museums, among which the Egyptian Museum - the second in

the world - the Automobile Museum, the Cinema Museum in the Mole Antonelliana and, last but not least, the Holy Shroud.

The Royal Palaces (10 in the city, 4 nearby) have been included by UNESCO in the world heritage list .

The city was founded by the Romans (Augusta Taurinorum) and developed following the plan of the

original Roman camp with perpendicular streets.

Turin is the first example of urbanism in the world.

Porte Palatine, the ancient Roman gates of Augusta Taurinorum

With 18 km of arcades, with shops and historical "caffè", one can visit the city, or simply wander around without fear of the sun or of the rain. Take the time to stop at one of the historic coffee shops to drink a Vermouth (did you know that it is made in

Turin ?) and eat a "panino".

The river Po, the hills, the Gran Madre and Monte dei Cappuccini, seat of the Mountains Museum

Turin by night and the mole Antonelliana, symbol of the city and seat of the Cinema

Museum

The Savoys ruled over Piedmont for about nine hundred years.

In 1861 Vittorio Emanuele II became the first king of Italy and Turin was the first

Italian capital. The Savoy residences, built in Turin and in the surrounding area to become a ‘Crown of Delights’, are now a national heritage.

Vittorio Emanuele II

In 1997 UNESCO listed the Savoys' Residences and Collections as a World Heritage Site in recognition of their exceptional artistic

and cultural value

Begun in 1646 by the royal lady Cristina of France, Palazzo Reale was the

sumptuous official residence of the dukes, and later, of the House of Savoy

for over two centuries.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace

 

 Located in the middle of Piazza Castello, this splendid

museum-residence represents the history of Turin across two millenniums. It has an impressive façade, a beautiful

atrium and monumental staircase. It was designed by Filippo Juvarra in

1721.

Madama Palace 

Madama Palace

  

This beautiful palace, birthplace of Carlo Alberto and Vittorio Emanuele II,

was built between 1679-84.In 1848, the central, elliptical-shaped hall, once used for ceremonies, was

transformed into the first Piedmontese Parliament.

Carignano Palace 

Carignano Palace

Immersed in the city’s largest park, facing the River Po,

this beautiful 17th century residence in the typical French style was

designed for the Royal Lady Cristina of France.

This was her favourite residence and she used it to

organize jousts, tournaments, celebrations and river games.

 Valentino Castle 

Valentino Castle 

Villa della Regina

 

The Basilica of Superga stands on top of a hill in a strategic position.

It was built by Vittorio Amedeo II as avow after the siege of Turin in 1706 and was built between

1717-1731 to a design by the great architect Filippo Juvarra.

The Basilica of Superga

The Basilica of Superga

Moncalieri Castle

Racconigi Castle

The Ducal Castle of Agliè

Stupinigi Castle

It was used as a hunting lodge by the Savoy kings

Rivoli Castle

Govone Castle

The Royal Castle of Valcasotto

The Castle of Venaria has a history made up of splendour, misfortune, plunder and

renaissance. Duke Carlo Emanuele II had the idea of the

royal palace. In 1658 he appointed architect Amedeo di

Castellamonte to express the best of his fantasy.

The French king Louis XIV saw the drawings of Venaria Reale

and wanted something even bigger. The Savoy complex came therefore chronologically before Versailles,

which was built a year later, in 1661.

The Castle of Venaria

The Castle of Venaria Reale

If you want to know more, visithttp://www.lavenaria.it/

By ITC “Rosa Luxemburg”Turin - Italy