Study Abroad in Torino...

The city of Torino, or Turin, is located in the northwestern portion of Italy and is close to the borders of both France and Switzerland. Torino, which means "little bull" in Italian, is the capital of the Piedmont region. The city was recently in the news when it served as host to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Torino was founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Celtic tribe of the Taurini Gauls. The city was overtaken by the Romans, Goths, Lombards and Franks early on in its existence. The 17th century brought about a sort of renaissance period for Torino, which resulted in the foundation of culture, architecture and art.

History majors will find plenty to get excited about in Torino. The French occupied the city during Napoleon's reign as emperor, but throughout much of the early 19th century, along with much of the Piedmont region, Torino was at the center of Italian unification. When Italy was unified in 1861, King Vittorio Amedeo II of the House of Savoy was its first king, and Torino its first capital.

Torino was one of the first cities in Italy to develop during the industrial revolution, and it maintained its position at the forefront of Italian industry throughout the 20th century. The existence of the giant Fiat automobile factories in Torino brought about thousands of jobs, and led to the mass migration of Italian laborers from the southern portion of the country. Today, Torino is considered to be Italy's second city after Milan in terms of finance and industry, offering plenty of learning opportunities for business and finance students.

Located at the foot of the Italian Alps, at the point where the rivers Po and Dora Riparia meet, Torino is an excellent ski destination during the cold months. Winters are cold and snowy, while the summers are on the mild side. Torino's close proximity to France and Switzerland make for interesting side-travel destinations, allowing for even more immersion into international culture.

Torino has its fair share of interesting culture as well. Its streets are filled with open-air markets and gipsies. Residents enjoy literature, theater and opera, and the region is known for its excellent cuisine-chocolate is a passion for Torino residents. The city is the birthplace of the Italian cinema, another major interest of its people. The bohemian nightlife is vibrant, particularly in the downtown area of Quadrilatero Romano. Discos, clubs, restaurants and wine bars stay open late hours.

Torino is known as the "magical city," and was recently named as the first World Design Capital for 2008 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. Students who study architecture will discover that Torino has much to offer, particularly in terms of baroque buildings and structures. Architecture students will not want to miss the old palaces and castles of the Savoy Residences, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi.

Art majors will be happy to know that Torino is considered to be one of the major European capitals of contemporary art, which is truly saying something considering the abundance of art throughout the continent. Numerous museums feature great works of art throughout the city, and religion and history students will certainly want to visit the Shroud of Torino, which purportedly features the cloth that Jesus' body was thought to be wrapped in after his death. Additionally, the Royal Library, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to Leonardo da Vinci's Autoritratto a Sanguigna.

Italy's higher education system is designed not only for teaching but for research as well. Academic freedom is protected by Italian law. There are four different types of higher education institutions, and Italy is home to 42 state universities, six private universities, three technical universities and 12 special university institutes. Students will find that several of the country's finest universities, including the Universitá degli Studi di Torino, are located in Torino.

Students looking for extensive history, fascinating culture and a wealth of art and brilliant architecture will be doing themselves a favor by studying abroad in the quaint little city of Torino.

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ONLINE RESOURCES
University of Turin: http://www.unito.it/index_english.htm
Politecnico di Torino: http://international.polito.it/en/
City site: http://www.regione.piemonte.it/lingue/english/index.htm
Tourism: http://www.comune.torino.it/canaleturismo/en/
Information: http://www.worldfacts.us/Italy-Turin.htm
Attractions: http://www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/ctattractions-17868202-Italy_Turin_attractions.html
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP

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