Your guide to Torino, a city of history, sport and more!

Former AIPS-FISU Young Reporter Fabio De Dominicis takes us around the city where he lives and works, but that is also the birthplace of the Universiade and the host of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter next January.

Italy boasts a plethora of world-renowned cities and tourist hotspots, with visitors from across the globe flocking to the likes of Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence to consume a slice of ‘La Dolce Vita’ while soaking in the sights, sounds and tastes these cities have to offer.

Yet situated in the country’s north-west, nestled at the foot of the breath-taking Alps mountain range, lies an often forgotten and severely under-rated gem of northern Italy, which happens to be the city that will host the next in a little over a month’s time.

Yes, we’re talking about Torino, a city boasting history, beauty, culture and cuisine, with a heavy side of sporting prowess to boot!

Thousands of student-athletes are set to descend upon this regal city and its surrounding towns for 11 days of winter sports action from 13-23 January, 2025. Yet in between the competition on the slopes, courts and rinks, there’ll be plenty time to explore and experience all that the picturesque city has to offer.

Let’s discover Torino, together!

History

Being the capital of the Savoy territory in the 1500s, Torino is a city littered with majestic buildings, gardens and palaces, with stunning architecture ranging from Baroque and Rococo to Neoclassical and Art Nouveau. You might need to add neck stretches to your warm-up routines after looking up at the exquisite architecture across the city all day!

A European crossroad for industry, commerce and trade back in the day, the city is famous for its automotive industry, housing the headquarters of Italian car brands Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo.

There are over 50 museums to visit in Torino, and while you may not have the time to visit them all, a handful of must-sees include the National Car Museum, the Egyptian Museum, the Musei Reali, Villa della Regina and the Lavazza Museum (which includes a coffee tasting!).

Did you know? Torino was in fact that very first capital city of Italy, but only for four years, from the unification of Italy in 1861, to 1865, before moving to Florence and its present-day capital, Rome.

Culture

Fancy a walk along a picturesque river? A pit-stop on a sun-lit bench in a post-card piazza to people-watch? A step back in time while exploring a former prince’s palace? A shopping spree of top-quality Italian products? A mouth-watering local culinary surprise on the go? A hike up a historic hill with un-matched views of the city? Yep, you can do all this, and so much more, in Torino!

With a population of 850,000 people, the Piemonte capital is the heartbeat of the region, an economic hub that is located less than 40 minutes from the mountains and just over an hour’s drive to the seaside, creating the perfect mix of city living and outdoor escapes nearby.

A typical day in the life of a local includes some, if not all, of the points listed above, often while walking under the famed porticoes that line the many streets – 18km worth, the second-longest of all cities in Italy, after Bologna – a concrete blast from the past, built to shelter the royal families that strolled the streets from the sun in the summer, and the snow in the winter.

Pressed for time? Spent all your Euros already? Not to worry, here’s five things you can do in Torino for free!

1. Visit the Mole Antonelliana (from the outside, at least!) – the most famous landmark of Torino that features on the Italian 2c Euro coin! Rising 167m high, it used to be a synagogue, but now houses the National Museum of Cinema.
2. Walk down Via Roma – a famed shopping street closed to motor traffic, here you’ll find stores of every brand imaginable. It’s even prettier at night when illuminated by colourful lights.
3. Take your pick of Piazzas – from Piazza Castello in the historic centre, to Piazza San Carlo with the twin church towers on its southern edge and Piazza Vittorio Veneto, one of the largest open squares in Europe – a photo in any of these must make it onto your Instagram gallery!
4. Parco del Valentino – the green lung of the city that runs along the famed River Po, this picturesque park has it all – from a medieval castle to a botanical garden, Olympian-producing rowing clubs to historic fountains and footpaths, it’s the ideal spot for an afternoon stroll.
5. Monte dei Cappuccini – Apart from the beautiful late-Renaissance-style church building, this hill offers the best panoramic view of the city, situated just across the River Po, 20 minutes’ walk from Parco del Valentino. All the best sunset photos are taken from here!

Cuisine

Italy and food… name a better duo! And in Torino, you have it all! From savoury to sweet (try to resist the local gianduia chocolates that melt in your mouth), alcoholic beverages to hot drinks, there’s something for everyone. To name drop just a few, Torino and the Piemonte region is where world-famous coffee brand Lavazza, home staple chocolate spread Nutella and cocktail mix Vermouth all originated from!

From fine-dining to traditional trattorias, focaccerias to panificios, there’s no shortage of places to eat around the city. Should your translation app let you down, here’s a must-try list, complete with explanations, of some local Piemonte delicacies for every palate:

1. Vitello tonnato – a classic Torinese appetiser, this dish consists of pieces of sliced veal with dollops of a creamy, mayonnaise-like sauce with tuna flavouring served on top. Don’t dismiss it before you try it!
2. Agnolotti – fresh, handmade pasta, folded over and stuffed with meat (there are vegetarian stuffings too!) and served with a variety of sauces. Absolutely delicious!
3. Panna cotta – for those with a sweet tooth, this dessert is made from thickened cream, milk and sugar – almost like a custard – served chilled, but drizzled with a warm sauce on top, ranging from coffee to vanilla.
4. Bicerin – this one’s not food, but a typical hot drink of the region, literally translated as “small glass”, made from coffee, chocolate and cream, carefully layered in a glass (and there’s an optional alcoholic version as well!). Do NOT commit the cardinal sin of mixing it with a spoon after it’s served!
5. Gianduiotti – a typical chocolate made in Piemonte with a hazelnut base, used in a variety of desserts, chocolates and gelato as well! The original chocolates are shaped like ingots and covered in gold wrapping. They can also be bought at most supermarkets, and make for great take-home gifts for friends and family.

Sport

Of course, you wouldn’t be reading this article if you weren’t a sports fan! Luckily for you, Torino is a city in love with sports of every kind! And here’s a fun fact you may not know: Torino was the very first city to host a FISU World University Games, back in 1959!

Football, or course, is the main sporting drawcard of the city, as arch-rivals Juventus and Torino both call the city home, with the two Italian football giants sharing an impressive 43 league titles between them. Be sure to check the football schedule in January, as a trip to the Allianz or Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium is always special, while the inaugural Kings League ‘Kings World Cup Nations’ – including teams with ambassadors in the form of legends such as Gianluigi Buffon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andrea Pirlo – will take place in the city on 12 January!

Yet beyond men’s football, Torino has played host to several high-profile sporting events in recent years, including the last four editions of the year-ending tennis ATP Finals at the Pala Alpitour, the 2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, the 2023 Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Champions League Finals, the 2024 Coppa Italia Final Eight Basketball tournament and this year’s high-profile rugby clash between Italy and New Zealand’s All Blacks.

It also hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics, and after the region hosted both the 1966 and 2007 FISU World University Games Winter, the Games will shortly return to Piemonte, with the region ready to once again welcome every student-athlete, coach and guest with open arms!

Text and pictures by Fabio De Dominicis