Above ground, Torino (or Turin if you speak English, LOL) is a beautiful colonnaded city of Baroque Palaces and grand piazzas; however, what lies 50 feet below modern day Italy is an ancient world of tunnels and mystery. It’s literally a web of intrigue as the ancient byways which lead underground, from palace to palace, piazza to air raid shelter, set the stage for unsolved murder.
- Micca lights the fuse that saves Torino! Painting by Andrea Gastaldi, 1858
Time seems to stand still once you descend into the tunnels. The ancient world lies below most of modern day Italy and it is no different in Torino. It is under the Citadel where the Battle of Turin was fought, resulting in a great victory for Vittorio Amedeo over the French in 1706. In fact, it was in these very tunnels that a young sentry, Pietro Micca, thought he heard the French coming and in an effort to save the city, he lit a fuse, blowing up the tunnel, collapsing it and at once saving Torino. Today, the Pietro Micca Museum museum honors his act of patriotism.
Further off the beaten path, is Turin’s cult-like link to the world of magic. Believers, even modern day followers, give credence to Turin being the center of all magic, both dark and white. They think two triangles, one good and one bad, cross in the city center. There’s even the crazy idea by some that the Gates of Hell lie directly below Piazza Statuto, built directly over the old Roman necropolis. Personally, I think it’s a crazy gothic myth because I found no evidence of Satan in a city which worships chocolate and to me that is heaven! Just remember, any ghostly tour is only as good as the physical being who prowls the dark side with you.
Let our Italy travel concierge help plan your magical visit to Turin.
