Turin - Piedmont

Turin, also known as Torino, is currently the fourth-largest city in Italy. In fact, however, the city once held an even more prominent position on the Italian political landscape, and was responsible for sparking the Risorgimento movement. Having once enjoyed a brief stint as Italy's "showcase city", Turin was host to more than several progressive-minded intellectuals, including Nietzsche and Dumas, on their tours around the country, and at the same time acquired a fair bit of architectural extravagance (in the form of Baroque edifications and 18km of arcades in the city center).

History
It was in the city of Turin that Emanuele II and Camillo Cavour first forged a nation-and here that the Red Brigades also threatened to rip it apart. Today, power in Turin has shifted from the bureaucrats to the "auto-crats", that is the producers of one of Italy's leading automobiles, the Fiat. The many palaces and offices located throughout the city are currently filled with antiques and some of the finest art collections in the world. Together, the energy and allure of Turin were enough to win the city the honor of hosting the future 20th Olympic Winter Games, which will take place in 2006 .

Sights
The Cathedral of San Giovanni, a Renaissance cathedral dedicated to John the Baptist, is an attraction best known for its enigmatic Christian relic, the Holy Shroud of Turin. The Shroud was transferred to Turin from Chambéry, France in 1578, and is supposedly the original piece of linen in which Jesus' body was wrapped in preparation for burial. A Mecca for museums, the visitor to Turin will encounter excellent exhibitions displaying everything from modern art to cinema. Additionally, Turin can claim possession of the second finest museum collection of Egyptian antiquities outside of Cairo. For the avid museum-goer, the Turin Card, good for 48 hr. of admission to Turins 82 museums, plus public transport, is key to affordability and reduced prices. The central hot spot of Turin's social scene is I Murazzi, made up of two stretches of boardwalk (one located between Ponte V. Emanuele II and Ponte Umberto, and the other smaller, adjeacent stretch found downstream from the Ponte V. Emanuele II). Murazzi del Po (as the location is also known) attracts a diversity of visitors, and is lined with a number of highly-frequented and populous bars, clubs, and cafés.

Cuisine
It is said that since the Savoy dynasty, Turin's butchers, bakers, and confectioners have continually sought out new recipes to satisfy the fickle taste buds of the city's upper social strata. A visiting gourmand should have no problem sampling from an assortment of meals fit for a king (or queen). Turin's real treat is without doubt her sweets. Ever since the Savoys began concluding their day with a steaming cup of cioccolato in 1678, the city has blossomed into one of the world's international centers for chocolate. In fact, great Swiss chocolatiers developed their techniques here, and the Turinese ice cream flavor known as gianduia originated in the city's very own gelaterie (ice creameries).

Transportation
Flights to and from European destinations make use of Caselle Airport. Trains run out of Porta Nuova, a station so comprehensive that it houses a supermarket, a barber shop, and a post office of its very own. Trains pass through daily on their way to Genoa, Rome, and Venice. (Porta Susa Stazione is just one stop down the line in the direction of Milan, but is still within the city limits.) Buses leave each day from Autostazione Terminal Bus for destinations such as Aosta, Courmayeur, and Milan.