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Thursday, September 20, 2007

Turin - Day 3

Paalo seems to be doing a bit better so after breakfast we test out his improvement by taking a wander around our abode and over to see the Santuario della Consolata.

We spend a while just sitting and taking in its glorious surrounds. Afterwards its a walk across the piazza to Al Bicerin for their famous bicerin.

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Unfortunately that proves a little too much for Paalo as he begins to feel unwell again and we head quickly back to our hotel. Since tomorrow is going to be a big day it's best that Paalo rests so I'm off to explore alone again.

I've decided to spare my feet and take the tram to visit the church Gran Madre di Dio - it's situated on the other side of the Po.

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It is quite the imposing building, sitting at the apex of a triangular wedge - to one side, high in the hills you can see the tops of the buildings on the Monte dei Cappuccini.

The Gran Madre di Dio is based on the Pantheon on Rome and commemorates the return of Vittorio Emanuele I after the French occupation under Napoleon. The statue of Vittorio Emanuele stands in front of the church - to the sides of the grand staircase sit the statues representing Faith and Religion.

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At the Monte dei Cappuccini you'll find the church of Santa Maria del Monte and the Capuchin Convent.

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View of Gran Madre di Dio

The Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I was built during Napoleon's occupation, between 1810-14. It is one of the few things built under Napoleon that still stands.

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It's the bridge that links Piazza Vittorio Veneto to the Gran Madre di Dio

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This is the area known as the Murazzi del Po - the Murazzi used to be the boat-sheds but now they are home to night-clubs and restaurants.

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In the distance you can see Ponte Umberto I - it was built between 1903 and 1907

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Here's one of the trams I took crossing the Piazza Vittorio Veneto - the piazza looks out upon the Gran Madre di Dio.

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Designed by Guiseppe Frizzi it is surrounded on three sides by porticoed buildings.

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Nearby on Via Po I came upon the Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata.

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Built between 1648-1656 it was designed by Carlo Morello and then modified in the 1900's.

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My next stop was the Mole Antonelliana

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In 1889 it was Europe's tallest brick building and it started life in 1882 with plans to be Turin's Synagogue. Due to a lack of funds it was eventually handed over to the city to complete. It now houses the Mueso Nazionale del Cinema (National Museum of Cinema)

My reason to visit was for the views - 85 meters from the ground.

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It is quite an experience going up in the glass elevator, from the ground you wonder how it will fit through such a small hole in the ceiling

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After this it was time to head back to the hotel stopping for lunch at a nearby cafe. This time I have a toasted panino filled with mozzarella and spinach - Yum!

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In the evening we went out for a stroll and to find a place for a little apertivo. I finally managed to get Paalo into the church just on the corner, Chiesa del Carmine

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This is another Juvarra design - one of his features are the domes on the side altars that act as light wells, making the church quite light and airy.

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The next church we find is on Via Garabaldi, Chiesa dei SS. Martiri Solutore, Avventore e Ottavio - I had passed this by earlier on in the previous days but it had been closed, now that it's open we take advantage of the fact and go inside

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It does have a most glorious interior - resplendent in gilt.

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We finally did come upon a place called the Feeling Cafe and settled upon their set apertivo.

Excuse the redness of these snaps but we were sitting next to a red light-bulb and there really isn't anything I can do about it

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First came olives, thick batons of pancetta, cheese, honey and crisp flat bread

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followed close behind and much to our surprise by this platter which had pesto potatoes, eggs with tonnato sauce and vegetable lasagne

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We were even more surprised when this tomato bruschetta also came out.

What really stunned us was the price, including 2 glasses of wine and 2 bottles of water, this came to a grand total of €15!

2 comments:

  1. Your photos are taking my breath away. I had no idea Turin was so gorgeous! What made you choose to go there? It looks fabulous!

    I'm looking forward to future updates. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  2. Thanks Truffle - Turin is indeed a beautiful city and quite elegant.I visited there two years ago and just loved it and knew when I came back to Italy I would have to return. The extra benefit was that Slow Cheese is held in a town just outside of Turin so it was handy for that. It's a great place to just walk and you can pretty much walk anywhere as it's so flat.

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