Most of Italy is steeped in history and breathtaking art, and Torino is no different. Its baroque and neo-classical architecture is impressive, but so too is Torino’s jazz scene, its reputation for innovative cinema, and the modern art in both its galleries and in the street graffiti. Torino has strong ties to the Catholic Church, as it is home to the Shroud of Turin—a linen cloth believed to bear the image of Jesus Christ. It is also home to a different type of religion: “futbol”; soccer in Italy is an important national pastime and Torino can claim the origins of the world-famous Juventus F.C. team. Going to Juventus soccer games is an essential part of the Torino university experience and a must during your time studying in Torino. 

Italian culture is very social; one custom that is popular in the northern regions of Italy is going out for aperitivi. Italians of all ages—especially university students—fill the streets in the early evenings for a pre-dinner cocktail hour at local bars and cafés. The area known as the murazzi along the Po River is a famous and popular destination for these excursions, which are filled with light drinks, appetizers, and good conversation. It is an excellent way to meet other Italian and international students in the city while studying in Torino.

Torino has many grand piazzas, where students meet to socialize, shop, and eat. On specific nights in the city, students and citizens alike join in watching and learning traditional dancing of the Piemonte region in the piazzas. In the winter, you’ll find large ice-skating rinks throughout the city, which are a very popular place for students to meet too.

Torino is in the center of the Piemonte region, in the northwest corner of Italy. Surrounded by the Alps and bordering France, Switzerland, and three other Italian regions, Torino has its own metro system, an international airport, and railway stations that connect with Italy and the rest of Europe, making travel effortless and very fast.

Torino is also world-famous for its fine wines and exquisite chocolate—what more could you ask for?