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The Taurini Gauls, a Celtic tribe, founded Turin 2300 years ago. Taurus is Latin for bull and still today the bull is the symbol of the city. Hannibal destroyed Turin during his famous journey across the Alps. Julius Caesar rebuilt it with the name Augusta Tauriorum (28 B.C.) as an important military colony, gateway to the western Alps. With the fall of the Roman empire the city was successively conquered by Goths, Lombards and finally Franks who established an earldom in the 8th Century.
The city has an excellent Egyptian museum, the most important in the world after Cairo's historical treasures. Turin is testimony of the stubborn dream of all small state the harmony of Italy was forged. During the Italian Risorgimento (independence and unification period) Turin became the first capital of the new kingdom of Italy.
From this time Turin's tendency toward industrialization accelerated with a turbulent burst at the beginning of the 20th century. Turin is now the industrial capital of Italy where the largest companies are based and have their manufacturing facilities: Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lancia and Iveco are just a few.
Today more than one million people live in this beautiful baroque city, crossed by the lovely Po river and surrounded by gentle hills. The glittering snow-capped Alps, just 30 kilometers away, surround the city in a shielding and impressive embrace and offer overwhelming views in the magical misty mornings or in the fiery sunset skies.
Turin benefits from an international airport bringing many visitors to the city every year. Turin is a great holiday destination with many inexpensive places to eat, and lots to see and do.
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