On Thursday, I traveled to Torino (aka Turin) with two classes from the school I work at. They went to a conference on intercultural affairs and they let me walk around the city to spend the day as I saw fit. I did so much, so here’s a snapshot of my busy day.
Mole Antonelli & the National Museum of Cinema
This is a really ugly building that was built by the same architect of a dome in San Gaudenzio in Novara, Antonelli. interestingly enough, it was originally meant to be a synagogue but it never became one and now it is the National Museum of Cinema. It was a strange museum to say the least, but they did a great job because they made is extremely themed according to a particular genre of movie. And there is a scary-as-hell all-glass elevator that goes straight up through the middle of the building to the top that rewarded you with beautiful views of the city.
Residents of the Royal House of Savoy
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, so I’m happy! The Savoy dynasty were the kings of a region of northern Italy and then with the unification of Italy in the late 19th century, they became the rulers of the whole Kingdom of Italy (which if you know anything about WWI, didn’t last very long). They changed Torino from a small, fortified medieval town to a sprawling city in the 17th and 18th centuries, and all of their royal residents are part of the UNESCO Site. I was able to make it to two of the palaces, Palazzo Madama (a huge “mother-in-law suite) and Palazzo Reale, which conveniently were in the same plaza. Also at Palazzo Reale I got in for free because I told the ticket taker that I studied art history! I then tried this trick all day but it didn’t work.
The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy is an outstanding example of European monumental architecture and town-planning in the 17th and 18th centuries that uses style, dimensions and space to illustrate in an exceptional way the prevailing doctrine of absolute monarchy in material terms.
Turin Egyptian Museum
You’re probably wondering: why would I go to Italy and see an Egyptian Museum? Well, it’s actually the first museum in the world to devote itself to Egyptian artifacts (probably all looted or questionable 19th century archaeology). It was partly closed due to extensive renovations so I was able to see it all that was available at a greatly reduced price.
Read more: Lesson Plans: The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Borgo Medievale
This was a strange place; I consider it a precursor to EPCOT. It is a fake medieval village in a park in the middle of Torino, and a faithful copy of 6 different villages of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. I walked around for free and then paid a little to tour the lord’s castle, they did a great job of making is realistic.
Read more: Why am I a Medievalist?
Bicerin
In my humble opinion, this drink should be a UNESCO site in itself. A delicious concoction of chocolate, cream, and coffee is unique to Torino. The name bicerin is Piedmontese for “small glass.” It looks like a plain glass of hot chocolate, but beware – it is deliciously toxic!
I think I did well for one day, there’s so much more to see. Maybe I’ll make another one-day journey before I leave Italy. One month down, two to go! Update: I never went back while teaching in Italy and, over a decade later, I still have not gone back to Turin, but I think of it often.
JMO
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