Turin
offers a lot of attractions both for the tourists and the locals.
There are numerous churches and many picturesque city squares. One
of these is the Piazza Bodoni.
This piazza was constructed in 1835. It is a splendid square well
worth visiting. It has recently been converted to a pedestrian square.
The
famous conservatory Guiseppe Verdi is situated in this piazza. The
famous architect Giovanni Ricci designed it. It was inaugurated
in 1828.
This is one of the main centers for conducting concerts and music
recitals. Many famous performers sometimes offer free invitation
passes for concert performances and other musical recitals. They
also conduct classes for teaching music both vocal and instrumental
and have produced a few famous pianists and cellists. Many famous
musicians and composers have had their initial training at the Conservatory
Guiseppe Verdi in Turin.
There
was a time when Piazza Bodoni was a covered fuel market. Today in
the center of the piazza there is an equestrian monument. This is
dedicated to the Alfonso Ferrero della Marmora. He was a famous
military general and statesman. He distinguished himself in the
Italian wars of Independence. He entered the army in 1823 and was
a faithful servant till his death in 1878. In 1891 Stanislo Grimaldi
del Poggetto sculpted this monument in his honour.
Café
Kipling is one of the famous and often visited spots in this square.
In summer it offers a pleasant outdoor portico, which looks out
into the piazza. The Holden bookshop is another often visited shop
in this piazza.
Recently Christmas in Turin has been characterized by lighting
as a forerunner to the festivities. The city has been hosting an
initiative, which is called Luci d’Artista. Through this initiative
leading artists showcase their work. In the Piazza Bodoni the Belgian
artist Jan Vercrussye has been creating mysterious screens of red
vapour. It is hoped that the city continues with this initiative
as this adds to the charm of the piazza.
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