For those who are planning to travel to Italy soon, it’s a great time as any to head on over because from now up until the end of 2015, it is promising to be a very busy, bustling year for this lovely country. In case you weren’t aware yet, Italy will be hosting a number of major international events, including the Expo Milano 2015, the Giro d’Italia, and the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix, to name just a few.
One of the many events to look forward to would be Expo Torino 2015 which will be happening at the same time as Expo Milano. As the two cities are mostly considered as sister cities in all but name, these expos are meant to further strengthen the Milan-Turin partnership and at the same time, to increase tourist activity in the area by providing visitors with a rich calendar of activities to choose from and participate in.
Both Expo Torino and Expo Milano are six-month-long events that will officially open on May 1, 2015, and close by October 31, 2015. Don’t worry if you’re arriving before the opening, though, because both cities are already building up to the main event by holding various activities as early as autumn 2014 and as late as December 2015. Visitors will also find it easy enough to hop between the two locations and participate in many of the activities in both Turin and Milan, thanks to the new high-speed Expo Express train which makes a stop at Turin’s Porta Nuova station, and takes visitors straight to the expo grounds in Milan.
For this blog post, however, we will be focusing on the activities that will be happening in the city of Turin (we’ll be following up with a list of activities for Expo Milano soon, so stay tuned for that, too!). Expo Torino’s theme will be following that of Milan’s, which is “Expo Milano 2015: Nutrire il pianeta, energia per la vita” or “Expo Milano 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” and accordingly, many of the events will be centered on the idea of food production and sustainability. There will also be concerts, plays, exhibits, lectures, demonstrations, and displays that will be held throughout the entire period, and for Turin in particular, the main highlights include the public display of the famous Shroud of Turin, and celebrations to mark the 200th birthday of Don Bosco of the Salesians.
For now, here are the known details on the announced events for Expo Torino 2015.
FOOD
- Ortinfestival
May 30, 2015 to June 2, 2015, at Venaria Reale- A food festival which will highlight organic, locally-grown food. There will be merchant stalls, tastings, cooking lessons, agriculture lessons, etc.
- Admission: EUR 8
- CioccolaTO
- Whole month of November 2014, at various outdoor locations in Turin’s city center
- As the chocolate capital of Italy, Torino celebrates this distinction with the aptly-named CioccolaTO. It will include stalls from chocolate and candy makers and brands, both local and international. There will also be booths and events that will feature both traditional and experimental chocolate recipes and production methods. Be aware that not all samplings may be free, but those that do ask for a fee are well worth it. There will also be competitions for the best chocolatiers.
- Admission: Free
ART
- Roy Lichtenstein Exhibit
September 27, 2014 to Februaryruary 22, 2015, at GAM (Gallery of Modern Art, Turin)- A comprehensive exhibit that features over 250 paintings by the master of Pop Art, Roy Lichtenstein
- Monet Exhibit
- March to June 2015, at GAM (Gallery of Modern Art, Turin)
- An exhibit featuring the French founder of the Impressionism, Claude Monet
- Kandinsky Exhibit
- July to October 2015, at GAM (Gallery of Modern Art, Turin)
- An exhibit featuring the Russian expressionist and abstract painter, Wassily Kandinsky.
- Note: GAM is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 6pm. Regular ticket prices are EUR 12. Reduced rates are available.
- Note: GAM is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 6pm. Regular ticket prices are EUR 12. Reduced rates are available.
- Fascino e splendore della porcellana in Piemonte
- October 9, 2014 to January 11, 2015, at Palazzo Madama
- An exhibit that celebrates 16th century Piedmontese ceramics. Master ceramic artists include Rossetti, Vische, and Vinovo.
- Poussin to Matisse
- October 8, 2015 to January 10, 2016, at Palazzo Madama
- An exhibit featuring four centuries of French impressionist paintings from the Hermitage.
- Note: Palazzo Madama is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am to 6pm; and on Sundays from 10am to 7pm. Regular ticket prices are EUR 12. Reduced rates are available.
Raffaello E Le Arti
- June to September 2015, at Reggia di Venaria, Venaria Reale
- An exhibit of the Renaissance artist Raffaello’s (Raphael) drawings and tapestries, all recently restored and exhibited for the first time after restoration.
- Meraviglie d’Italia: Le antiche origini del made in Italy dal Medioevo al Settecento
- June to September 2015, at Reggia di Venaria, Venaria Reale
- An exhibit of Italian craftsmanship and artisan crafts of all kinds, spanning from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
- Note: Reggia di Venaria is open every day from 8am to 5pm. Regular ticket prices are EUR 12. Reduced rates are available.
- Moda Auto
- May to September 2015, at Museo dell’Automobile di Torino
- An exhibit on “car fashion” or the evolution of cars and car design over the last 50 years in Italy and Europe. Exhibit will include vintage cars and related memorabilia.
- Museo dell’Automobile is open every day from 8am to 5pm. Regular ticket prices are EUR 12. Reduced rates are available.
- Luci d’Artista
- November 2015 to January 2016, outdoors all over the Turin city center
- An event where buildings in Turin are covered and decorated in many beautiful lights. There are also light shows in public spaces.
- Admission: Free (open air)
- Artissima
- November 2015, at Lingotto Fiere
- A major contemporary art fair where both local and international artists feature their work. There are many galleries and exhibitions, sellers’ booths, as well as competitions. It is a prominent event that is representative of Turin’s flourishing art scene.
- Reinauguration of the Turin Egyptian Museum
- May 2015, Egyptian Museum of Turin
- Turin’s Egyptian Museum has undergone a complete makeover and will be ready for the public by May 2015.
MUSIC
- Torino Jazz Festival
- Last week of April 2015 (Part 1) and First week of June 2015 (Part 2), at Parco Dora
- This is a major local and international jazz festival which will include a series of open air concerts as well as competitions. There will also be film showings of documentaries on the topic of jazz and jazz musicians, as well as musical workshops and lectures.
- Admission: Free for some events. Other events may charge various amounts.
DANCE
- Festival Torino Danza 2015
- September 2015
A dance festival which features a series of performances at various theaters and locations in Turin, both indoor and outdoor. The performances are mostly classic, jazz, and contemporary dance.- Admission: Ticket prices vary
LITERATURE
- International Turin Book Fair
- May 14 to 18, 2015, at Lingotto Fiere
- A major book fair which will feature both local and international authors. Events include book shopping, book signings, forums and lectures, as well as meet and greets with authors.
- Admission: EUR 10
TECHNOLOGY
- SMAU Business Torino 2015
- May 2015, at Lingotto Fiere, Turin
- It is a technology and innovation conference which promotes the use of the latest technology in order to foster and develop both big businesses as well as startups. There will be an exhibition floor with booths, as well as various workshops, lectures and panels, all dedicated in helping businesses improve and grow through the use of innovation and tech.
RELIGION
- Ostension of the Shroud of Turin
- April 19 to June 24, 2015, at the Basilica of Turin
- In one of those rare occasions, the famous Shroud of Turin will be put on public display for visitors and religious pilgrims for an extended period.
- Admission: Free
- Don Bosco’s 200th Birthday Celebrations
- The Salesians will be holding masses and programs to celebrate the life and legacy of Don Bosco. There will also be a world conference of Salesian Bishops.
May 2015, Colle Don Bosco, Torino-Valdocco Church- Admission: Free
OTHERS
- Italian Military Tattoo
- July 9 to 11, 2015, Piazzetta Reale
- One of many global gatherings which will showcase military performers and bands in historical costumes. There will also be parades, tournaments, sporting events, gun competitions, as well as other musical and theatrical performances.
- Admission: EUR 18 to EUR 32
These are just some of the many, many reasons to visit Turin over the coming months, and details of even more events and highlights are expected to be released as the expo event draws closer.
