City context

Torino is located in Piedmont, northern Italy, on the plain of the River Po, just south of the western Alps. The municipality (commune) had 900,608 inhabitants in 2006 making it Italy's fourth largest city. The province surrounding Torino, covering 6,830km and corresponding roughly to the metropolitan area, consists of 315 municipalities, and had 2,242,775 inhabitants in 2006 (see Figures 10.1 and 10.2).

From Roman garrison to national capital: 25 BC to 1865 AD

Torino boasts a rich history as a military stronghold and trading hub. Its grid network of straight streets in the city centre demonstrates one of its early functions, as a military camp for the Romans in the 1st century AD. Since the 14th century it has been an important political capital, and only later developed into a major industrial city (see Figure 10.3).

The city's strategic geographical position, at the foot of the Alpine passes leading to central and western Europe at a crossing-point over the Po River, helped determine its development. It was a frontier stronghold during the Middle Ages, changing hands between Europe's great military leaders. Captured by the powerful Dukes of Savoy in 1280, it became their capital until the 19th century, playing important political, cultural and economic roles; the magnificent Baroque city core is a testament to the earlier wealth of their dynasty (see Figure 10.4). Political stability and prosperity fuelled demographic growth and economic diversification. By the 18th century, Torino had developed into a centre of artisan manufacturing, chiefly textiles.

As the 19th century progressed Torino's industries flourished and the value of trade tripled. In the 1830s and 1840s, the Piedmontese government embarked on a major economic stimulus programme to encourage investment in the region. This included public–private joint ventures such as an extensive new railway system, which by 1861 made up 40 per cent of the entire Italian network. The regional government's collaboration with the private sector on economic development projects cultivated a tight-knit oligarchy of civic leaders who would continue to forge the development of the city.

The granting of a Piedmontese constitution in 1848 ushered in a new era of political and economic modernisation that positioned Torino as the springboard for the movement that unified Italy in 1861.