In the city of Turin, the capital city of Piedmont in northern Italy

 “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

-- Michelangelo
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(in the northwest of Italy) Bordering Switzerland and France, Turin (also known as Torino) is the capital of the Piedmont region. It also served as the first capital of a newly united Italy back in the 1860s. Though it suffered severe damages during World War II, it still retains a great amount of its original ecclesiastical architecture. In addition to being an important business city, it is known for its galleries, museums, theaters, opera houses, and libraries.

+ The city is mainly located on the west bank of the Po River, near its junction with the Sangone, Dora Riparia, and Stura di Lanzo rivers -- and is surrounded by the western Alpine arch and Superga Hill. From 1563, it was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy, then of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy. It is sometimes called "the cradle of Italian liberty" for having been the political and intellectual center of the Risorgimento. Although much of its political influence had been lost by World War II, Turin became a major European crossroad for industry, commerce and trade -- and is part of the "industrial triangle" along with Milan and Genoa.

+ Turin is rich in ecclesiastical architecture. Churches include La Consolata, the Waldensian Church (the first Protestant church in Turin), and the nearby basilica of Superga (long the royal burial church). The Renaissance-style cathedral of San Giovanni houses the Shroud of Turin, a piece of linen long thought to be the burial garment of Jesus. The cathedral and chapel were badly damaged by fire in April 1997 and underwent major restoration work.

+ Turin also has many fine palaces. The Madama Palace, begun in the 13th century, owes its name to the resident widows of the 17th-century dukes of Savoy. Used by the Sardinian Senate from 1848–60 and by the Italian Senate from 1861–64, it now houses the Museum of Ancient Arts. The Carignano Palace, the birthplace of King Victor Emmanuel II, now houses the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento. The Royal Palace houses the Royal Armoury, with one of the finest collections of arms in Europe. The Academy of Science, formerly a Jesuit college, now houses the Museum of Antiquities, the Egyptian Museum, and the Sabauda Gallery.

+ There is a whiff of Paris in Turin's tree-lined boulevards and echoes of Vienna in its stately art-nouveau cafes, but this elegant, Alp-fringed city is quite self-possessed. The industrious Torinese gave the world its first saleable hard chocolate and Italy's most iconic car, the Fiat. Its booming contemporary art, architecture, and live-music scene and innovative food and wine culture are aspects you will want to discover. A stroll around Piazza Castello and along the Via Roma encompasses many of the must-see sights. Valentino Park houses an 18th-century castle, botanic garden, and medieval village.