Status: 05/08/2022 12:05 p.m
The Eurovision Song Contest will be decided in Turin in a week. The city in northern Italy is surprisingly glamorous at the opening ceremony – and with a message of tolerance and peace.
In the Parco del Valentino, between the Po River and the coolest neighborhoods in the city, the people of Turin worked until the end on the Fan Village. 17,000 people should find space here. Some from the ESC community, like the Italian Cristina Giuntini, are already in Turin and are looking around. “People from all countries will celebrate together here,” says the Florentine in anticipation. The current situation in the world is difficult, she admits, but “music brings people together like nothing else”.
Giuntini is perhaps the biggest fan of the Eurovision Song Contest in the host country. Her parents got her excited about the ESC, she says, since 2009 the Florentine has been there live for all decisions. Now she is experiencing a finale “a casa” (at home) for the first time – and is pleased that Turin has been awarded the contract: “Because Turin is a city that is easily forgotten by many non-Italians.” In Italy there are Rome, Florence and Venice as tourist attractions. But Turin also has a lot of beautiful things to offer, both culinary and architectural – “after all, Turin was Italy’s first capital”.
Aperitif in the square
Hardly anyone can tell you about it like Ardena Caramello. The Turinese leads through her hometown as a tourist guide – and beams as she enjoys the buildings around the central square in the Piazza San Carlo with a sweeping arm movement: “The buildings here are simply beautiful. They date from the 17th century, are not baroque or art nouveau, but classical, some still in their original condition.” It is the most expensive spot in the city, but care has been taken to ensure “that long-established cafes and shops can keep under the arcades”.
The people of Turin are primarily seen as hardworking and ambitious, as friendly, but initially reserved – but they are also people who enjoy themselves. They proudly point out that vermouth, and with it the aperitif, was invented in Turin in the 18th century. A tradition that is still actively cultivated in the city, says Caramello: “At 11, 11:30 a.m. you drink your first aperitif here on Sunday. That’s just part of it.” Meet in the piazza until it’s time for lunch at home. During the week it starts later, so in the early evening the city center of Turin is practically a single aperitif bar.
Preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest are in full swing on San Carlo Square in Turin.
Image: EPA
First capital of Italy
When the people of Turin aren’t enjoying life, they like to invent. Turin, says Caramello, is more of an innovative than an industrial city, even if it has this image because of the Fiat factories. The first coffee machine came from here, but also the first Italian reinforced concrete, the country’s first cinema opened in Turin, as did the first car factory, and the two largest Italian banks also have their roots here.
Perhaps the most important innovation: Italy was “invented” in Turin. In the 19th century, the liberal royal family of Savoy, based here, promoted the unification of the country, and Turin became Italy’s first capital. Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture from those years characterize the city center, there are 18 kilometers of arcades and one of the longest pedestrian zones in Europe.
Mayor hopes Mahmood and Blanco will win
A mayor from the Left Democrats, Stefano Lo Russo, is sitting in the town hall today. The mayor wishes that Turin should send a message of tolerance, peace and the European spirit during the days of the ESC.
With a view to the decision on the music stage, Lo Russo says, as mayor of the host city, he would like the best to win, but pushes afterwards: “As an Italian and Turinese, I also admit that I keep my fingers crossed for Mahmood and Blanco. For In the event that they really should win, I’ll announce: Then we’ll do the ESC in Turin next year as well.”