Torino Shopping  2006

Consuming the Olympic spirit:

The Olympic spirit is pulsating in Torino (Turin). This breathtaking beautiful city in northern Italy graced with the majestic Alps along its skyline, French influenced architecture and castles standing along its embrace with the River Po, now assumes a new character. There is definitely a new vitality in this mostly quiet, but rather unique cultural city. Suddenly, it seems that everyone wants to consume the Olympic spirit.

Everyone seems to be enjoying the moment, even those who do not actually attend the sporting events want to get into the party mood or the buying mood. It is a combination of things that inspires the feeling everyone experiences while in the midst of all the Olympic competition, celebration and excitement. The local residents say that the city suddenly feels alive in a way that has never been felt before, generated by the Games with its elite international competitors and tourists descending upon their beautiful city for this once in a lifetime event. Torino is probably more known to its European neighbors than to those countries outside of Europe. Certainly the aura of the 2006 Games will give Torino a new spot in the hearts of those who compete and visit here for the first time.

Watching the sport competitions are the most exciting thing to do no doubt, however, even if one does not have opportunity to see the sports events up close and personal, there is, of course, plenty to immerse oneself in to enjoy the Olympic ambiance.

One very busy corner in the midst of all the Olympic hustle and bustle is, the Piazza Vittorio Veneto with its grand presence alongside the Po looking towards the Chiesa Gran Madre di Dio (the church of the great mother) standing across the river. The Vittorio Veneto area offers an enticing selection of cafe bars, restaurants, cafeterias, shops. The piazza is the place to begin consuming the Olympics ala carte because here one finds the Olympic Superstore, featuring all those souvenirs we want to take home to treasure and talk about.

Every piece of merchandise in this Olympic supermarket is stamped with the prestigious symbol of the Torino 2006 XX Winter Olympiade, whether they are caps, t-shirts, jackets, key chains, pins, the official Olympic mascotte (mascots) dolls "Neve" and "Guz", cow bells, or the Piemontese specialities of chocolates and wine (cioccolato e vino). The Olympic Store can also be accessed online via the World Wide Web on the Internet at http://www.Olympicstore.it.

Olympic gold medallion chocolates are particularly popular among the Olympic entourage of tourists. Torino is a chocolate paradise that most people outside of Italy do not even realize. The Piemontese Italians can really boast of their exquisite chocolate, claiming it is the finest in all of Europe. The Torino shops offer the Gianduiotti chocolate, a Piemontese specialty produced by Caffarel. The superstore also features a good selection of Piemontese wines: Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo , just to name a few. Finally, if nothing else, the Olympic Superstore is also a nice place to stay warm, dry and cozy especially when rain, sleet or snow descend on the city.

But the weather, for the most part, does not pose such a big problem in the center of the city for the eager pedestrian, as there is a network of covered sidewalks, or rather it is more like a system of grand covered corriders referred to in Torino as portici. One doesn't have to step out into the wet weather unless one really wants to. It is the only city in Italy that features this unique architecture in various parts of the city. So, basically, one can walk all the way from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, down the chic via Roma and down to Piazza San Carlo almost entirely under covered walk ways.

Also located in Piazza Vittorio Veneto are restaurants both famous for their typical Piedmont cusine (cucina Piemontese), the Spade Reale located at Via Principe Amedeo 53 and Porto di Savona located at Piazza Vittorio Veneto 2, www.portodisavona.com . They will serve meals that one will never forget. Typical Piemontese entrees are agnolotti and bagna cauda, and then there are the delicate sweet desserts such as pana cotta, crème caramel and profiteroles (made with Piemontese chocolate). The competitors and tourists are also flocking to the gelaterias. Italian ice cream is the finest in Europe and can be tasted for its delicious pure homemade character at Gelateria Fiorio on Via Po (a second newer store is located in Piazza San Carlo).

Another very grand historic and beautiful piazza in Torino, is the Piazza San Carlo. Upon entering the piazza one will immediately see the large crowds cheering the activities of NBC Television's outdoor studio-stage. It is entertaining, especially if you want to participate with the cheering crowd while Olympic celebrities are being interviewed live on-stage proudly showing off their medals. One may even get a glimpse of oneself on the television as the large TV camera swings around the venue. In the middle of the Piazza San Carlo there is also a gigantic television screen with continuous coverage of Olympic events and Torino.

In Piazza San Carlo there are places one must visit, the Cafe Torino to sample its fine selection of sweets and pasticceria and also the Caval 'D Brons famous for its pasticceria, and aperitivo buffet (the cocktail hour). During aperitivo from 7.30 to 9:00 p.m. enjoy a glass of Piemontese wine, one of many varieties such as Arneis, Moscato or Pinot.

Consuming the Olympic spirit is not just about the sporting events but also about the city and the culture in which the Olympic Games are taking place. To enjoy the moment is to embrace many things simultaneously, it is the people you are dining with, cheering among a crowd of people, the sweets or the wine you delight in, or that vigorating walk down Via Roma on a fresh winter day under the portici. The immense beauty of its surroundings and culture does make Torino a special place to enjoy the Olympic spirit.

By Karin Susan Fester

Email: karinDOTfesterATtinDOTit
Tel. 39. 339.7644096
copyright © 2006 Karin Susan Fester