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3 Stars - 1 Opinion
Egyptian Museum
chocolate and sweets
Piazza San Carlo
Hand painting chocolate shapes
There was a short item on Internet news about a bus hijacking with guns etc near Alessandria-What was that all about as I have not heard of those type of incidents in Italy--Gene
Can't think it was much,and most people only travel by with the train.Alessandria is in the country,although a major train hub there is nothing to stop for so don't worry.Italians are friendly no worries.
The story does seem a bit bizzare to me. The Italian press currently isn't reporting much more than the English press - 3 Albanians (as far as they can tell) hijacked a bus with the intent of kidnapping the passengers. There were 2 police cadets on board (yes, 2, not one as reported in the English press) who tried to resist, but were both wounded (not seriously).
However, the Italian antiterrorism guys responded with gusto, and after the hijackers let the passengers off, there was a gunfight, two hijackers were caught immediately, and the other was caught later in Milan.
So far, I haven't heard a better explanation than kidnapping for ransom...but it does seem strange...
Bill
No, the intent was robbery, they just though that that would have been a nice way to steal wallets, watches and cell phone.. And at least 2 had nice traces of cocaine in their blood.
Anyway, this is a very uncommon news, never happened before in my memory (or maybe there was not blood involved, who knows?).
Antiterrorism is still investigating, but really it seems a matter of regular criminality from immigrants... a big issue these days..
Ciao
Francesco
The neo-classical architecture of central Turin allows for large squares and fountains. These are not common, but they may be very relaxing spots within the city. In the picture you may notice the Alfieri theatre in piazza Solferino, during winter.
"Pollicino" (Tom Thumb) is a multilingual (Italian/English/French) software for interactive consultation on pda for tourist who like walking round the city to search stores, services and also to discover monuments, historical museums and palaces.
A new high tech way to visit Turin. Leave the Lonely Planet back and go with your personal guide and be never lost.
You have a Gps and a map preloaded with walking tours of the city (and a tool to create your owns). You have also a database with deep info for about 1000 point of interest. And the calendar with the scheduled shows and activities.
Pollicino can be rented for 10 euro a day at the Turismo Torino Information Point at Atrium Torino in square "piazza Solferino".
A caveat: I didn't used it, nor anyone I know (Pollicino is very unknown here). Maybe wise to pack also the Lonely Planet :-)
Atrium Torino - piazza Solferino 10121 Turin
Ph. +39.011.535181
Fax +39.011.530070
OPENING HOURS:
Mon-Sun: 9.30 a.m.-7 p.m.
The market place in Piazza Repubblica, also known as Porta Palazzo, is the best multi-cultural market I know about in Northern Italy. Only in the morning, or up to 4 pm on Saturdays.
The picture shows Walter, my favourite plant supplier: he's very dedicate, but he has not a permanent stall in Porta Palazzo market place, just in piazza Nizza.
Not only parking is scarce most anywhere in town, it's also expensive. Except for a few public underground spots, parking in Torino means finding a place on the streets. Closer to the city center, blue painted lines require an hourly fee in between 8:00 AM and 7:30 PM, no fee on Sundays and certain holidays. In the past few years the city had lifted the parking fee for the whole month of August but this is not a consolidated rule. Locate a ticketing machine, not always that close and it only accepts coins. Pay for as much as you need and place the receipt on the dashboard in a visible place. Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly parking coupons are sold at newspapers and tobacco stores.
Not much for the parking fees but what I don't like is the fact that, despite paying, one still has to deal with Lady Luck to find a spot. It's an unnerving practice and my personal solution is to move around on two-wheelers. Bicycle if I don't have to leave it alone (potential theft problem) or motorcycle for other cases. Local police close an eye for motorcycles parked on sidewalks and some other namely forbidden places. Just make sure it's not impeding passages or circulation and it should be alright.
It has been a corner stone in the Torino top restaurants (since 1988).
It has reopened just few days ago.
Here in Torino it is quite easy to eat very well. This is another restaurant of this sort.
So nothing to say about the cuisine: as good as the other better Torino restaurants (going deep is a matter of personal taste and preference).
What is peculiar to this one is his location.
Embedded in the heart of Quadrilatero Romano (the most ancient district of Torino), the Trait d'Union is hosted in a charming palace of 16th century: Palazzo Scaglia di Verrua.
The restaurant is well hidden. No neon sign on the street.
You have to book your table. You have to ring at the door bell. You have to enter in the first courtyard. Take your time to say "wow" looking around. You have to ring at another door bell and enter the second courtyard. After the second "wow" the restaurant entrance is on your left.
The inside is total white (as the actual fashion pretends) but is not so cold.
One gossip: the countess of Verrua, who lived in this palace, was the lover of the king Vittorio Amedeo II. It is said that she eventually fleed to Paris once discovered as a spy sent by king Louis XIV. I've tried the fish menu (40 euro) and also the meat menu (35 euro): both very good.
As a minus I can just underscore the slowness of the service.
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