Turin
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 300px Location | ||
| Region | Piedmont | |
| Province | Torino | |
| Area - Total - Water | ### km² (##.## mi²) ##.# km² (#.# mi²) #.##% | |
| Population
- Total (2002) - Density |
896,918 #,###/km^2 | |
| Time zone | CET: UTC+1 | |
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Latitude
Longitude |
45°04'N 7°40 W (##.#######, -##.#######)1. | |
| External link: Cittá di Torino | ||
Turin (Italian Torino) is a major industrial city in north-western Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. Population of the commune 865,263 (2001 census), but its metropolitan area totals about 1.5 million inhabitants. The province is one of the largest in Italy, with 6,830 sq. km, and one of the most populated, with 2,165,619 inhabitants at the 2001 census.
History
The area was settled by the Taurini in pre-Roman times. In the first century A.D, the Romans created a military camp (Castra Taurinorum), later dedicated to Augustus (Augusta Taurinorum). The typical Roman street plan with streets at right angles can still be seen in the modern city.
Law and government
Need infoGeography
Need infoEconomy
Nowadays the city is a major industrial centre, known particularly as home to the headquarters and main production lines of the car company Fiat. The city is home to the famous Lingotto building, which was at one time the largest car factory in the world, and is now a convention centre, concert hall, art gallery, and hotel. Demographics
Need infoSites of interest
One of its main symbols is Mole Antonelliana. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist houses the Shroud of Turin, an old linen cloth with an imprint of a man, which is believed by many to be the cloth that covered Jesus in his grave. The Museo Egizio has one of the most important collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world. The city is also famous for being the film set of the 1969 classic fim, The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine. It is possible to visit all the locations on a special tour.Colleges and universities
Need infoSports teams
The city is famous for its soccer teams (Juventus and A.C. Torino), and will host the 2006 Winter Olympics. In a terrible air accident in 1949, a plane carrying the whole Torino football team (then one of the most important in Italy) hit the church of Superga, on the Turin hills. Among those who lost their lives was Valentino Mazzola, father of Ferruccio and Sandro Mazzola (who were also later to be football champions).Chocolate
Turin produces a typical chocolate, named Gianduiotto after Gianduia, local Commedia dell'arte mask. Nearby towns
Turin is surrounded by several smaller cities in the Province of Turin such as Grugliasco, Rivoli, Orbassano, Moncalieri, Avigliana, Buttigliera Alta, Gassino Torinese, etc. to make up one of Italy's primary metropolitan areas.Notable natives
External links
Photos of Turin
Túrin is a fictional character in The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien; see Túrin Turambar.