Turin: A former industrial city turned cultural and gastronomic capital

With its reputation as a grey industrial city, Turin has succeeded in making a brilliant conversion in recent years. To prepare for the 2006 Winter Olympics, architects from all over the world, including Jean Nouvel, Aimaro Isola and Renzo Piano, have been working to renovate the city, removing dilapidated warehouses and cleaning up old districts.

The city's regulatory plan, drawn up in 1995, already envisaged three major sections of the area. In the north, next to a translucent market hall, the former gas factory is becoming a major university centre with a diamond-shaped roof designed by Norman Foster. Further on, the chimney of a factory is being transformed into the bell tower of a church (Santo Volto Church and Dora Park), the work of Swiss architect Mario Botta. To the west, the industrial wasteland along the old railway line is transformed into a futuristic thoroughfare (the Spina Centrale). The former Fiat factory is becoming a cultural site dedicated to the automobile and contemporary art, as well as a green corridor. To the south, the former Olympic village has been converted into a residential area.

Situated along the River Po, Italy's longest river, Turin is also home to many Baroque works of art: churches, squares and porticoes. Here too, major renovation work has turned these monuments into cultural centres and exhibition venues.

Resolutely high-tech, Turin is also the first city to have experimented with "Artists' Lights", staging and illuminating several of the city's monuments every year for several weeks. Numerous art galleries have also sprung up here, making the city one of Italy's most avant-garde centres for contemporary art.

In addition to its cultural appeal, Turin has also established itself as a gastronomic capital. As well as the many restaurants serving Piedmontese specialities, dedicated venues have opened. At the famous Porta Palazzo market, local farmers sell their organic fruit and vegetables alongside cheesemongers, butchers and wine merchants. The whole of Turin's and Piedmont's gastronomy is represented and showcased here. The Mercato Centrale next door gives free rein to chefs from Turin and abroad to tantalise visitors' taste buds. Finally, chocolate remains the star of Turin's cafés and restaurants, with the famous local drink, the Bicerin, a blend of espresso, cream and chocolate served in a stemmed glass.

Once a stopover for winter sports enthusiasts, Turin is increasingly attracting visitors for its own sake. Its many museums and galleries, its international film festival, its chocolate festival, its gastronomic tradition and its architecture attract the curious and gourmets from all over the world.

In winter, temperatures can easily drop below zero. To warm up after a visit, the cafés serve mouth-watering hot chocolates, an institution in this chocolate capital. In summer, the heat can be oppressive. Thanks to the miles of arcades lining via Roma and piazza San Carlo, you can stroll around the city in the shade. Of course, sitting on a terrace sipping a cold chocolate is also an option!

Why not treat yourself to an apartment hotel right on the Piazza San Carlo? It's the ideal location for being as close as possible to historic Turin. At number 197, the San Carlo Suite Torino offers sober, modern and functional flats for around €180 a night in a standard 50 m2 flat.