Turin Facts

1. Geographical fact: Turin lies in Italy's northwest corner, on the river Po, in the Piemonte region with the Alps to the west and north
2. Interesting fact: Turin was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1864
3. Religious fact: The Holy Shroud is located in Turin's Duomo just off Piazza Castello
4. Random fact: Turin's iconic building, the Mole Antonelliana was once the highest brick building bulding in the world
5. Chocolate fact: The ChocoPass is your ticket to 10 tastings of chocolate, from Gianuiotti to pralines, from cakes to biscuits and hot chocolate in Turin's historic cafe's and pastry shops
6. Fun fact: Step with your heel on the bronze bull's balls set in the pavement outside Caffe Torino in Piazza San Carlo, it's supposed to bring you luck!
7. Sports fact: In 2006 the eyes of the world were on Turin for the 20th Winter Olympic Games
8. Weird fact: Turin's Egyptian Museum has the second most important collection of Egyptian antiquities outside Cairo
9. 2011 fact: This year the city will host major celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification
10. Food fact: The "Slow Food" movement was started in Bra, near Turin
11. Bread fact: Turin is home to grissini, those famous breadsticks now served in virtually every restaurant in Italy
12. Drink fact: Vermouth was invented in Turin in 1786 by Benedetto Carpano who created this aperitif created by the expert blending of wine with thirteen different ingredients