Turin was founded 2300 years ago by the TAURINI Gauls, a Celtic tribe. Taurus is Latin for bull and still today the bull is the symbol of the city. Hannibal destroyed it during his famous journey across the Alps. Julius Caesar rebuilt it with the name AUGUSTA TAURINORUM (28 B.C.) as an important military colony, gateway to the western Alps. With the fall of the Roman empire the city was successively conquered by Goths, Lombards and finally Franks who established an earldom (8th century). Eventually Turin came under the influence of the Savoy family who were granted the feudal lordship by the Emperor Frederick II in 1248. The house of Savoy ruled Turin until 1536 when it was occupied by the French. Duke Emanuele Filibero of Savoy won the city back 30 years later and transferred the capital of their dukedom from Chambery to Turin. For two centuries Turin and the surrounding region of PIEDMONT (meaning "foothills") developed as one of the most influential centers of the Italian peninsula.

The 17th century was Turin's most prolific cultural, architectural and artistic period. During this period it became the creative center of Baroque architecture in Europe. Two of the most eminent baroque architects, Guarino Guarini and Filippo Juvarra, built magnificent churches, palaces and royal residences, such as the Savoy Royal Palace of Turin, surely one of the most beautiful in Europe. In the adjacent cathedral of St. John the Baptist (1498) , the famous and mysterious SHROUD OF TURIN is carefully preserved and periodically displayed to public (the next exhibitions are scheduled for 1998 and 2000).

The city also has an excellent Egyptian museum, the most important in the world after Cairo's The historical treasures of Turin are testimony of the tenacious dream of all small state the unity of Italy was forged. During the Italian Risorgimento (independence and unification period) Turin became the first capital of the new kingdom of Italy. (1861-1864).
From this time Turin's tendency toward industrialization accelerated with a tumultuos burst at the beginning of the 20th century. Turin is now the industrial capital of Italy where the largest companies are based and have their manufacturing facilities: Fiat, Alfaromeo, Ferrari, Lancia and Iveco are just a few.

Today more than one million people live in this beautiful baroque city, crossed by the lovely Po river and surrounded by gentle hills. The glittering snow-capped Alps, just 30 kilometers away, encircle the city in a protective and imposing embrace and offer breathtaking views in the magical misty mornings or in the fiery sunset skies.