Turin Stocking Stuffers

Happy Saint Lucy's Day to all those who celebrate December 13th, including our very own Lucia of Turinepi!!

Besides Scandinavia and St Lucia, St Lucia's is a festive day in many parts of Italy where she brings the Christmas presents, leaving Santa just some small packages to fill up his stockings.

Originally from Syracuse, Sicily, during the Roman times, Lucia was persecuted and martyrized because she wouldn't renounce her faith. Her relics traveled to many places and because her name means light, her story finally merged with the Winter Solstice and this is how she make it up to Northern Europe where she's represented wearing a crown of candles and bringing light in the 'longest dark day of the year'.

If you can read Italian, enjoy our short story here.

Fiat 500 where the T stands for Torino

The Holidays in Turin

Galleria San Federico

And just like that it is December 2022 and the Holiday season has officially kicked off some time in November when many Italians decided it was time to put up their tannenbaum. By now, the only decoration Turin is still missing is her official Christmas tree that will be placed in the 'royal piazza' in front of the royal palace, where the elephant and the novice were in the summer, on December the 8th. 

This year the Turin Christmas tree won't be alone as a tiny wood of 20 smaller decorated trees will surround it. They will be out till January 8th, so Befana can enjoy them for a couple more days too.

Bicerin: history, coffee, chocolate

A visit to Turin without stopping by Al Bicerin for a bicerin - Turin staple coffee drink - or a hot or cold chocolate wouldn't be complete!

For this 8th edition of Turin Epicurean Capital we met with Mr Alberto Landi, president of the association Locali Storici d'Italia or Italian Historical Italian Businesses and also owner and current manager of the oldest coffee house in Turin and it nearby chocolate shop.

Chef Justin Yip and pastries

This 8th edition of Turin Epicurean Capital has been a rich one as it came double to celebrate the Italian victory 🏆 of the Euro 2020 ⚽

For turinepi21 we decided to share some of the turinepi experiences our guests enjoy when they come over to Turin and live the city like locals.

Turinepi21

 Just one week to our 8th edition of Turin Epicurean Capital, a second virtual edition but in a new form!

the 2021 optimism

The new year started with the vaccination campaign for covid19 in Italy too, and as Befana came and took took away our Christmas decorations, in Turin we are keeping our Winter Lights on exceptionally till well after Mardi Gras. One of the Turin city council members explained that given the current circumstances, 'we all need to be cheered up'.

Festività natalizie

Buon Natale 🎄e Felice Anno Nuovo 🎊 con questo racconto scritto pensando a tutti i nostri amici legati in diversi modi a Torino, al Piemonte, agli appassionati di lingua e cultura italiana, e naturalmente a tutti coloro che amano la tavola.

Che il 2021 vi porti qui da noi 💝

nocciolini di Chivasso

Only three ingredients are needed to make this traditional tiny amaretto-shaped cookies from Chivasso, a small town in the Canavese area, 13 minutes by train north of Turin.

super tiny and delicious nocciolini di Chivasso