Describing Turin is not an easy task; the city is known for
its cold, greyness and large industries. On the other hand, it is also a fascinating,
interesting city. Linked to the Savoy tradition and being the ex capital of
Italy, it is a city of charm, rich in historic monuments with the entrepreneurial
spirit of a city in continual economic growth. It is an ordered city, built
to an urban plan from the roman period with linear streets that are clearly
set out. Turin is an elegant city that does not flaunt its "regal"
past, traces of which can be found in its artistic, historic and museum heritage.
The physical, historic and cultural centre is the symbol of the ancient capital
of kingdom of Savoy. Turin would not be the same without its "palaces",
such as the come Palazzo Madama or the Palazzo Reale, and the porticoes which
date from the baroque period. These make up an extraordinary walk which winds
around the centre for 18 kilometres, and were built to protect the royal family
and their court from bad weather. Starting from the Porta Nuova walk towards
the Cittadella, and from there walk to Piazza Castello and under the porticoes
which are surrounded by shops, bars and cafés of all kinds until you
reach the River Po. Crossing Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Carlo Felice, walk
opposite Palazzo Reale and in the distance, continuing towards Via Po, the
Gran Madre can be seen beyond the Piazza Vittorio bridge.