Torino

Torino, or Turin, is the capital of the Piedmont region. It has a beautiful old city center that is largely undiscovered by foreign tourists. That may change in 2011, when Turin celebrates the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and its brief role as Italy’s first capital city.

The Mole Antonelliana was originally destined to become a Jewish synagogue, and one that was taller than any Christian church. Some of the Christians were outraged and the building was taken over and converted for secular purposes.

Turin has long been thought to be a center of mystical energies. Some believe that it lies at the intersection of black magic and white magic energy lines. The statues of twins Castor and Pollux supposedly look over the energy lines.

Look, Pollux has an upside down star above his head! That must mean something esoteric!

Perhaps Turin’s legacy as a center of the occult resulted in the deposit of the Catholic Church’s holiest relic, now known as the ‘Shroud of Turin.’ Here is the home of the shroud in the Duomo di San Giovanni. It is not scheduled for public display again until 2025.

The Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I bridge across the river Po, leading to the Chisea di Gran Madre di Dio. The church is one of the locations rumored to be the home of the Holy Grail.

I saw this on the bridge and I surmised that it represented the commitments of young lovers to each other. I think that you would have to dive into the river to find the keys.

Unlike the Buddhist Syambunath Stupa of Nepal, the Capuchin hill in Turin is home to monks but not monkeys.

Turin at night.

The dark brings a different kind of light.

There are a few Roman ruins sprinkled about Turin, here are the old city walls.

Never underestimate the invasiveness of a black walnut tree.

I have to wonder if the English speaking church sounds anything like Mr. Ed.

Apparently the taco crepe is not a culinary abomination unique to Japan.

The gelato however, is a great delight! Hazelnut was my favorite.

The Egyptian museum has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in Europe. It is housed in a former Jesuit academy that was taken over when the Jesuits fell out of favor.

A visit to the Egyptian museum was a great inspiration to Damanhurians 30 years ago. They integrated quasi-Egyptian motifs into their arcana.

A sign of things to come.

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