The originality of Turin, but also its least known characteristic, is to be found in its ability tomarry radition and innovation, experience and experiment, and in its dynamic approach to life; a type of vibrant laboratory, as active in the world of the arts and culture as it is in sport and at work.

This tendency, whose roots lie in tenacity and creativity of the Turin people, is stimulated by a variety of enterprising local institutions and entrepreneurial business, and by the existence of the city's stunning artistic and cultural heritage which is now receiving a major facelift in the campaign to revolutionise the conventional image of the city.

This heritage includes the Savoy Residences; buildings of outstanding historical and architectonic interest, some of which offer an unusually lively range of cultural activities and exhibitions, whose interest is not only local.

The Savoy residences include all the palaces of Piedmont's royal family, the Savoy dynasty, as well as the castles of the nobility in the countryside around Turin and their town houses in the city centre.

Since 1997, this large collection of historic buildings has been recognised as a world Heritage by UNESCO. The buildings in Turin include the Royal Palace, Palazzo Chiablese, the Royal Armoury, the oyal Library, Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano, Villa della Regina and the Valentino Castle. Outside the city there are the castles at Rivoli, Moncalieri, Venaria, Govone, Agliè, Racconigi, the Royal Hunting Lodge at Stupinigi and the country house at Pollenzo. All these residences are open to the public and are home to a variety of cultural events.

Some of the buildings are due for radical restoration work; in particular, the Venaria Royal Palace, in which visitors can already see the splendid and recently restored Galleria di Diana (Gallery of the Huntress Diana), will be the object of further renovation work that will restore the whole complex of buildings to its original splendour and allow it to be used as a museum.

Among the Savoy Residences, Rivoli Castle, already part of a grand project started in 1718 by Filippo Juvarra, on behalf of King Vittorio Amedeo II has been, since 1984, home to the Contemporary Art Museum of the same name. The Museum represents one of the cultural "excellences" present in the Turin territory: the majestically restored rooms host many exhibitions of international repute, and are home to a permanent collection of works by Italian and foreign artists, from the 50s to the present day.

In the area of the great tree-lined avenues of Turin, that once housed the embassies of the European states, can be found the Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art that, for the importance and prestige of its collections, is the second museum of modern art in Italy, after the National Gallery of Rome. Re-opened in 1993, after being radically restructured, and endowed with an enriched artistic heritage, the Gallery has 5,000 paintings and 400 sculptures as well as a collection of etchings, engravings and drawings from the 18th century to the present day. Its most important exhibits include works by Fontanesi, Medardo Rosso, Modigliani, Klee, Balla, De Chirico, De Pisis, Casorati and Warhol. Numerous exhibitions and events on an international scale have attracted a huge public since the reopening.

The third centre of the Turin museum system dedicated to contemporary art is the Bricherasio oundation, housed in the building of the same name that has been recently restored, which plays a vital role in the organisation of exhibitions and cultural events of international significance.

Among the "driving forces" of the City, the Book Fair and the Music Fair are two regular dates on the calendar that attract publishers, artists, critics and rpresentatives of the world of culture to Turin, and draw in large numbers of visitors.

The Book Fair, the pride and joy of Turin's cultural business, has taken place in May for over five years. Housed in the new Lingotto Exhibition Centre it ttracts well over 150,000 visitors at every edition. During those five days in May, Turin becomes the Italian capital of cultural and literary life.

The Music Fair, now in its third edition, adopts the same appealing formula of the Book Fair, combining a serious cultural function with the strong attraction of the most popular musicians and singers, both at the Fair and in various venues around the city.

One event dedicated to art, that has more than a purely cultural significance, is Artissima, that is both an exhibition and a market. This is recently created, but already highly popular event, draws gallery owners, artists and critics to the city from all over Italy and from abroad. In particular, it serves to highlight the significant number of famous names and refined collectors who are based in Turin.

There is also the newly founded association of the Circuit of Young Italian Artists, that brings together 23 local authorities from all over Italy. It was set up in 1997 for the Biennial of the Young Artists of Europe and the Mediterranean, to promote and support the work of outstanding young artists and performers.

From the point of view of art and youth, the association also promotes the Thatre House for Teenagers and Young People, hosted in a multifunctional structure that incorporates two theatres, and a centre for study, research, experimentation and theatrical performance, designed specifically for young people.

Every September, Villa Gualino, from its spectacular position on the splendid Turin hillside that overlooks the city, becomes the home of Experimenta, a science fair based on direct experimentation in physical phenomena. Each edition adopts a specific theme that is highly popular with the general public. But Villa Gualino offers more than just this one event; it is also the home of the Institute for Scientific Interchange Foundation, a major centre for scientific and technological research, and for the training of young scientists and researchers. The Centre has accomodation for 100 people, attracts participants from all over the world, and organises debates and conferences in addition to its teaching programme. Villa Gualino also hosts e European Training Foundation, the indipendent agency set up by the EU to co-ordinate the professional education and training programmes that it runs in partnership with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

Turin is art, culture and innovation, but it also means sport.
Football, in particular, has always been one of Turin's great passions, attracting huge crowds of home and away fans to every match during the season. Juventus, established by a group of students back in 1897, is indisputably one of the world's greatest clubs, and is certainly the most popular team in Italy: according to a recent survey, one third of all Italians support the men in the famopus black and white strip. But in Turin, the football heart also beats for Toro (Turin Football Club) founded in 1906, and supported by fans noted for their passionate devotion. Sport in turin also means the Turin Marathon, an event that has grown in popularity over the years. Today it is a major event on the internationale calendar and brings participants from all over the world.

The people of Turin are also lovers of golf, that is played in prestigious clubs like, for example, the Mandria which is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Also fencing and rowing are practised. But the real passion of all true Turin people is winter sports: thanks to the many superbly equipped ski resorts only a short drive away from the city, like Bardonecchia, Sauze d'Oulx and Sestrière, that was the host to the last World Skiing Championships in 1997; resorts equipped for all the sports activities of the mountains, in such a way so as to allow Turin to result the winner for the organisation of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.