Years ago, when someone would ask me that question, I had a much different answer. Picking a favorite city was like asking me which flavor of gelato I like best. I can’t just pick one. However, that was before I made a life here, learned the language and began to find my groove.
I completely understand why people are in love with Rome. How could you not love a city with so much to offer?! Perhaps it’s because of the sheer size or because it’s #1 on EVERYONE’S must see list but I can’t say that I love it. I definitely need to go back and explore more though.
Florence is another city that people flock to and having been there twice, it’s NOT for me. I honestly feel like Florence is a trap for people to see and be seen and to get totally wasted. As a non drinker and a mother, it was hard for me to find a family friendly place where I could relax and not have to settle for an aperitivo to feed my kids.
As much as I dislike Florence, I do like Venice. This is mostly due to the fact that I absolutely love taking people there for the first time and watching their eyes light up when we step out of the train station. The magical water world and maze like streets speak to me. I would really love to visit in the winter so I can experience a more magical vibe.
The city that has my heart and for good reason is my adopted hometown: Turin (Torino is Italian).
There’s a 50/50 change you have heard of Torino. Mostly likely because it was the host city for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. I had never heard of it until I met Carlo (my husband). When things began to get serious (3 weeks after we met!) I started to learn more about the city I hoped to call home. One of the first things I found was the NBC spot that aired before the Opening Ceremonies. It gave me goosebumps. It STILL does!
Once thought of a dirty Industrial city, Torino is anything but. It is the 4th largest city in Italy and yet it is not bombarded by mass tourism. That’s not to say we don’t have visitors. Most of our tourism comes from other Europeans countries and Asia.
Here are some FACTS ABOUT TORINO you many not have known about:
HOME OF FIAT
HOME OF THE BICERIN
HOME OF THE GIANDUIOTTO
Has the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CINEMA – LARGEST MOVIE MUSEUM IN THE WORLD
HAS THE SHROUD OF TURIN
THE APERITIVO WAS INVENTED IN TORINO
HOME TO THE SAVOY FAMILY WHICH WOULD LATER RULE A UNITED ITALY
FIRST CAPITAL OF ITALY
HOME TO THE 2ND LARGEST EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN THE WORLD
Has the LARGEST OPEN AIR MARKET IN EUROPE
also has the LARGET PORTICOED SQUARE IN EUROPE
CHOCOLATE CAPITAL OF ITALY
HOME OF THE TRAMEZZINI (CRUSTLESS SANDWHICH)
PENGUINO- CHOCOLATE DIPPED GELATO ON A STICK INVENTED HERE
HOME OF MARTINI & ROSSI VERMOUTH
THE ORIGINAL EATALY IS IN TORINO
With all of this and more… How could I not love this city? I can promise you that if you come to visit, you’ll love it too. Just remember that when you visit, you will not see your typical “Italian” city. We’re more. You may find yourself lost in-between medieval architecture and Baroque facades… and that’s all in walking distance!
*for more about my favorite city, click here for more posts about Torino.
This post is part of the Dolce Vita Bloggers Link Up. Thank you to Kristie from MammaPrada, Jasmine from Questa Dolce Vita and Kelly from Italian at Heart for organizing such a fun topic. This months’s topic was: Favorite Italian City. If you want to read what other Italian cities are featured, click here for more!
texasmomintorino.com 
Torino most definitely deserves to be known more! It’s such an elegant and alluring city ❤
And yeah, I remember that "epic" spot by Nbc, I remember I found it on youtube at the time!
Thanks for sharing! It's nice to known another #Dolcevitablogger 🙂
Ciao, Sara
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Thanks for reading Sara. ‘Elegant’ is probably the most used adjective to describe Torino.
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I LOVE that you chose Torino as your favorite city! Like you it’s impossible for me to choose a favorite city, gelato, etc. Torino totally won me over when I studied abroad there. It is definitely one of my favorites, although if I have to choose ONE favorite city it has to be on the water and ONE favorite gelato has to have chocolate 😉
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I don’t know if I could pick a favorite city on the water. Every year we go to Bellaria which is near Rimini and we love it, but I also really want to go back to Imperia which is beautiful. Then there’s Naples… so amazing!!! As far as gelato, I’m with ya… chocolate is a must!!
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So pleased you chose Torino! Kelly and I are actually going to be here this summer! I’m so excited to visit as I’ve heard incredible things about it. It seems to have a great deal on offer without all the crowds and mass tourism of other cities. Thank you for sharing what is special about it. I’m really looking forward to seeing it for myself. xx
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I’m so excited for you to come visit Torino. I know you’ll love it!
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What a wonderful post of a wonderful city that I may be coming to again next month.Love your adopted town and the pictures. Keep you posted 🙂
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Yay!! Oh.. I hope you do get to come back. Would love to see you again!
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Me too cara. I will text you more on whatsapp closer to the date. xx
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You had me at “THE APERITIVO WAS INVENTED IN TORINO”….. My favourite meal of the day! 😉 Loved the facts! It seems to be a beautiful city! One that I must visit indeed!!!
http://www.angela-Williams.org
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Yes… I love a good Aperitivo but an Apericena is even better! There are lots of surprises in Torino. Hopefully you can visit someday.
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WHAT ANGELA SAID. Can I come meet you for aperitivo? Sounds like the perfect city for me. I haven’t been but it’s definitely in my sights for the future. I think it could even work as a weekend trip no?
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Yes, a weekend trip is totally doable. It’s only 50 minutes from Milan (on the FrecciaRossa). Come anytime!
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Ditto to the two comments above haha, I remember I went to one of the famous bars for an aperitivo there – a bit pricey but AMAZING food! The cinema museum is great too, we fell asleep on those red lounge chairs…!
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Yes, the famous bars are very pricey but it’s one of those things you have to do once. The cinema museum is one of my favorite places. Those red chairs are heaven after all of the walking you do!
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Torino is one of the top places I want to visit!
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