Turin is much more than the sum of its monuments: an urban cosmos teeming with ideas and culture, 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, balancedbetween the measured sumptuousness of Piedmont Baroque and the rational Roman town planning. It alluresby welcoming visitors to the aristocratic and imposing spaces of Piazza Castello, the historic centre of the city, while its historical cafés and restaurants prove that it is queen of taste and conviviality: so it is impossible to not be tempted by the lively pace of its citizens, particularly the 'aperitif' time and the ritual of drinking chocolate, the legacy of that famous charm whose chief exponent are the Royal Residences, listed “World Heritage Sites” by UNESCO in 1997.
The city is also assuming a new appearance thanks to its role as the capital of contemporary art and to the particular attention dedicated to innovative architecture on the heritage of its industrial soul. The best example of this changes are the Lingotto complex, an imposing industrial building renewed and turned into new spaces with new uses, and the so called “Olympic district” realized for Torino's Twentieth Winter Olympic Games in 2006.
Moreover the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Indoor Sport Arena (also called “Palaisozaki” by the name of the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki), and the Oval Olympic Arena are just some impressive projects proving Turin’s yearnings towards future and progress.
See the website www.turismotorino.org where you will find many useful advice to visit Torino and also lots of special offers to make your stay unforgettable.