Each year on the 20th June, the Sanctuary of the Consolata retraces the discovery of the image of the Virgin below the ruins of an antiqued church by a blindman, who regained his sight while being guided by a miracolous light.
A novena of prayers culminate in the Procession, an event which attracts not only many of the Faith but also many tourists. At sunset, the statue of the Madonna is carried through the streets of the City Centre (with a rest in front of the Palazzo Civico), followed by thousands of people with burning torches. We recommend you see for yourself how much passion is experienced by the faithful at this event, led by the Archbishop of Turin.

The best way to relive a day in 18th century Turin is to take part in the Historic Carnival which takes place on the last Sunday (of the actual Carnival) in the piazza della Consolata. A crowd of costumed people unfurls in the square, in a flourish of stuffed wigs, powdered white faces and beauty spots. You can also witness piedmontese soldiers in full military manoeuvre firing pistols and muskets. Naturally the masked women sip the bicerin as in times long gone. The Bicerin is the only one that doesn’t need to dress up…it already represents the past.

Each year Turin stops and admires the historic reenactment of the siege of 1706. So significant was this event for the city that today it still carries great emotional impact. Figures in costumes, led by the Mayor, parade through the centre, passing by the Consolata and showing off the uniforms of various regiments of the period that acted in extreme defence of the city against the French and that culminated in the heroic act of self-sacrifice by Pietro Micca. Horses, canons and all types of weapons make this a very emotional parade.

www.museopietromicca.it

Questa zona, un tempo molto degradata è al centro di “The Gate”, un importante progetto di recupero e valorizzazione i cui dettagli possono essere approfonditi al sito:The Balòn is the city ‘flea-market’. It takes place every Saturday in the labyrinth of the streets a stone’s throw from the Cafè Al Bicerin, and it takes up every available centimetre with the daily market at Porta Palazzo, the cheapest market for genuine bargains in Turin. By the end of the 1800s this had become the in-place for collectors, rag and bone men, second-hand dealers or anyone who was passionate about buying and selling. Over the last few years it has become the centre of a multi-ethnic culture.
Here you can buy items from all around the world and enjoy exotic meals in the bars around the market. This is a vast expanse of special offers. The people of Turin love to meet here and it’s a real mine of business activities (beware however…it’s still a market!).
On the second Sunday of each month, there is the ‘Gran Balòn’ not such a large market but one with more carefully selected bargains– items of little use are substituted by valuable antiques.
Once a very downmarket area, it has become the centrepiece of ‘The Gate’, an important project to renovate and restore it back to its original value. Details can be found on the site:

www.comune.torino.it/portapalazzo/

Turin was the first city in the world to entrust leading figures from the contemporary art world with the display of the Christmas lights. At the end of October, the city is lit up at various points with a display of lights and illuminated routes, becoming a real ‘open-air museum’ with lit monuments, fairy-tales that scan the length of a street, huge balls of snow made from recycled materials. This is not to be missed if you want to get to see some wonderful parts of Turin and some extraordinary works of Art.
www.a-torino.com/eventi/lucidart01.htm

Epiphany ended means the holidays are over. What is there to do? Naturally…eat from the big chocolate tree that enthrones the Bicerin shop for the duration of the holidays. As a propitious act, a love for sweets with a pagan twist, on the afternoon of the 6th January, the chocolate tree is cut into pieces and distributed to customers and passers-by in the piazza of the Consolata. So the person who receives the sock full of coal…is compensated!

This unique event takes place every two years. Started by Slow Food to promote and enhance the culture of good taste in food and drink, this Salon represents all that is excellent thereof. The next event takes place in Turin from 24th to 28th October 2002.
In the Food and Drinks Hall the Bicerin is promoting, tasting sessions on a theme, for small groups and on demand only. For example, come and be amazed by the zabaione, cocoa and coffee… a marriage Italian style – Cocoa dreams. If your mouth is watering…don’t forget to book.

www.slowfood.it

This event speaks for itself. On 19th June 1999, the International Olympic Committee reunited in Seoul and awarded Turin the 2006 Winter Olympics. From this moment, everyone has rolled up their sleeves This is an enormous event for the city and the region. As it is a one-off for all those who love sport in an area which offers something for everyone. The objective is one in which Turin excels, and this will be the way to show it. The Caffè Al Bicerin is already working on special products that provide energy for the athletes and everyone else.


http://www.torino2006.org/

“ The bicerin bar and theCambio restaurant are among the places I like most”
(Statement by Evelina Christillin, vice-president of the Olympic Comitee, yo Claudio Giacchino – La Stampa)

There are other international events taking place in Turin. Here are the main ones.

Turin hosts a series of Film Festivals. The most famous is the Turin Film Festival that began life as ‘Youth Cinema’ and then…became what it is now!
www.torinofilmfest.org

More famous still are The International Festival of Environmental Films about ecology and the environment (www.cinambiente.it), the International Festival of Film with homosexual themes (www.turinglfilmfestival.com) and the International Festival of Women’s Cinema.http://utenti.tripod.it/festivalcinemadonne/

For the visual arts; there are two events not to be missed: ‘Artissima’ a Contemporary Art fair with major Art Galleries in the world taking part (www.artissima.it) and the Biennale for Young Artists now a permanent fixture after Turin had officially hosted the ‘Biennale for Young Mediterranean Artists’ in 1997. For further information see:
www.bigtorino.net

Another important cultural event is the Turin Book Fair, the fourth time since 2002 (the fifth if you include what was previously called the ‘Book Halls’). Schedules, dates and information from the website: www.fieralibro.it

There are also excellent music concerts. The most prestigious being the ‘September Music’, a series of events bearing the heading –quality sounds.
http://www.comune.torino.it/settembremusica/

Turin is in Piedmont … or more accurately at the foot of the mountains, so it’s only natural that it should host an important Mountain Hall, not to be missed by lovers of Mountains in every season.
www.salonedellamontagna.it

Each year the scientific spirit of the city is represented by a display with a new theme relevant to today’s world. It’s called ‘Experiment’ –a voyage of intrigue and discovery for the young and old.
www.experimenta.to.it

There is another event which must receive a mention. In a city with a massive non EEC community, for many years an event called ‘Identity and Difference’ has been held – a festival of interracial culture, organized in winter at the Turin Intercultural Centre. Art, gastronomy, traditions… you can choose.
http://www.comune.torino.it/cultura/intercultura

The Turin salon of the Automobile is a very important shop-window for the car industry and for all those connected with it. This, the 69th event has has been affected by the economic crisis – the 2002 edition was cancelled.
www.autonext.it

For several years the prestigious headquarters of the Lingotto (the ancient and completely rebuilt FIAT factory) has hosted numerous Fairs and international meetings. At the official Lingotto site you can get an overall view of all events taking place here.
www.lingottofiere.it