[00:00:14] Miles: Today we’re setting our sights on Turin. It’s a really fascinating city in Italy’s Piedmont region. And it seems to be popping up more and more on the radar for expats and retirees. You’re right at the foot of the Alps, but you’re in this city with grand historical buildings rubbing shoulders with a pretty appealing modern vibe. That’s Turin in a nutshell, really.
[00:00:35] Alessia: And for this deep dive, we’re sticking strictly to the info from Magic Towns, Italy. The goal here is to really dig into what makes Turin attractive specifically for you, if you’re considering a move there. We wanna get past the tourist brochures.
[00:00:55] Miles: Let’s unpack this then. Turin clearly has this stunning setting with the Alps right there, but it’s definitely more than just scenery, isn’t it? It’s got layers of history.
[00:01:08] Alessia: Oh, absolutely. Turin’s story starts way, way back. First it was a settlement of the Taurini people. Then the Romans showed up. They established it as a colony Julia Augusta Taurinorum back in the first century before Christ. And what’s really interesting is you can still see that Roman grid layout in the city center today. It shaped how the city grew.
[00:01:38] Miles: That’s fascinating. And then much later, it played a huge role in Italy itself. Correct.
[00:01:43] Alessia: Afgørende rolle. Spol frem til det 19. århundrede, hvor Torino bliver den første hovedstad i det forenede Italien.
[00:01:51] Miles: Wow. The first capital, that’s a pretty big deal historically
[00:01:55] Alessia: Kæmpe. Det var kun fire år. Men alligevel,
[00:01:58] Miles: Tror du, at den korte periode som hovedstad stadig giver genlyd i byen i dag? Føles den anderledes på grund af det?
[00:02:07] Alessia: Det synes jeg, at det gør. At være den første hovedstad, selv kortvarigt, ser ud til at have givet Torino en følelse af borgerlig stolthed og har helt sikkert påvirket arkitekturen, hvilket man kan se på de virkelig brede, elegante boulevarder, de store pladser og den formelle stil på paladserne i de offentlige bygninger. Det giver Torino et lidt mere herskabeligt præg end andre italienske storbyer.
[00:02:34] Miles: Okay, so it’s got this deep historical weight, but it’s not just stuck in the past, right. There’s more recent stuff too. Something involving snow and skis.
[00:02:45] Alessia: Ja, helt sikkert. Helt sikkert. Torino var vært for vinter-OL i 2006. Det medførte en hel bølge af modernisering og satte byen tilbage på det internationale landkort, men selv før OL var Torino allerede et kraftcenter for italiensk innovation.
[00:03:07] Miles: Som hvad?
[00:03:08] Alessia: Tænk på din aperitivo. Vermouth startede i Torino.
[00:03:12] Miles: Aldrig i livet.
[00:03:13] Alessia: Oh, amazing little gianduiotti chocolate, which you’re an invention. Crispy grissini bread sticks.
[00:03:19] Miles: Jeg elsker dem.
[00:03:20] Alessia: Og selv den ydmyge espressomaskine har sine rødder i byen.
[00:03:24] Miles: Okay. Så Torino er dybest set ansvarlig for halvdelen af mine daglige fornøjelser. Godt at vide.
[00:03:31] Alessia: Pretty much. And it wasn’t just food and drink industry was massive there.
[00:03:36] Miles: Åh, ja. Bilerne FIAT. Lige præcis. Det cementerede Torino som et vigtigt industrielt knudepunkt i Italien. I lang tid udgjorde Torino, Milano og Genova den industrielle trekant.
[00:03:50] This was the engine driving Italy’s industrialization, both in the late 19th century and again during the economic boom after the second World War . That industrial heritage is still part of the city’s DNA.
[00:04:05] Alessia: Fra romersk forpost til industrielt lokomotiv. Noget af en forvandling gennem århundrederne. Jeg så også, at den er opført som en Gamma Global City. I. Hvad betyder det egentlig for nogen, der bor der?
[00:04:20] Miles: Good question. That Gamma classification basically means it’s recognized as an important city in the global economic network. It signals a decent level of international business connectivity, maybe not quite on the scale of an alpha city like Milan or London, but still significant for you as an expat, that could mean more international job opportunities in certain fields. Generally a city that looks outward.
[00:04:47] Alessia: Det giver god mening. Og for kulturgribbe er der også UNESCO-steder.
[00:04:53] Miles: Yes. Two actually. You’ve got the residences of the Royal House of Savoy and the Po hills.
[00:05:02] Alessia: Fortæl mig om de kongelige residenser. Det lyder storslået.
[00:05:05] Miles: They really are. It’s not just one palace. It’s a whole network of amazing buildings, palaces, castles, hunting lodges and gardens scattered in and around Turin and the Piedmont region. They belong to the Savoy dynasty, the family that eventually ruled Italy. Each one gives you an incredible window into centuries of royal history and frankly, opulence. Think amazing day trips right from your doorstep.
[00:05:36] Alessia: Og Po-bakkerne. Det lyder mere naturligt.
[00:05:38] Miles: It is, that UNESCO designation recognizes the area for its natural beauty, but also its cultural landscape. It’s like Turin’s green lung offering fantastic views back over the city. Space to get outdoors.
[00:05:56] Alessia: Det lyder også som en by med ægte karakter og styrke. Jeg læste noget om dens rolle under Anden Verdenskrig.
[00:06:02] Miles: Yes, that’s a crucial part of Turin’s more recent history. It was a major center for the anti-fascist resistance movement during the war. The people there made huge sacrifices and showed incredible bravery, so much so that the city was awarded the gold medal of military valor after the war.
[00:06:22] Alessia: Okay, so the history is undeniable, really rich, but let’s shift gears. What’s it actually like to live there now, day-to-day life, the culture, the vibe for an expat or retiree?
[00:06:36] Miles: Well, the consistent picture is of a city that’s maybe a bit more relaxed, gentler than somewhere like Milan. And so I feel like seemingly on one side of it, you have this very
[00:06:48] Alessia: Blidere. Det kan jeg godt lide
[00:06:49] Miles: De beskriver det som underspillet elegance, en stille charme, endda et strejf af en nordeuropæisk følelse, måske i sin organisation eller atmosfære.
[00:07:01] Alessia: Interessant. Så mindre kaotisk end Rom måske?
[00:07:06] Miles: Yes. That slower pace often comes up as a major plus for expats who’ve moved there.
[00:07:13] Alessia: Hvad med at finde din stamme? Er der et stort internationalt fællesskab?
[00:07:18] Miles: Ja, helt sikkert. Over 134.000 udenlandske beboere.
[00:07:24] Alessia: Wow, that’s a lot. It
[00:07:25] Miles: suggests you’ll find a diverse mix of people and likely established networks for expats from different countries.
[00:07:30] Forhåbentlig en indbydende atmosfære for nyankomne.
[00:07:33] Alessia: Okay, good to know. Now, onto a very important topic. The food. What’s Turin cooking up for residents?
[00:07:43] Miles: Oh, prepare yourself. Turin and the whole Piedmont region are famous, world famous for amazing food. It’s rich, sophisticated stuff.
[00:07:52] Alessia: Okay, kom med nogle eksempler.
[00:07:54] Miles: You’ve got agnolotti, tiny hand pinched pasta, usually filled with meat, so delicate. Then there’s tajarin thin, bright yellow egg pasta. Perfect.
[00:08:06] Alessia: Og den klassiske vitello tonnato, koldt kalvekød i skiver med en cremet tun- og kaperssauce. Det lyder mærkeligt. Smager fantastisk.
[00:08:15] Miles: I know. It’s, it’s, it’s surprisingly good. Or
[00:08:17] Alessia: Noget mere hårdført. Oksekød kogt langsomt i utrolig Barolo-vin, og du skal absolut prøve en bicerin.
[00:08:26] Miles: Um, what’s that?
[00:08:27] Alessia: It’s unique to Turin, a layered drink served in a glass. Hot espresso on the bottom. Then rich, thick, hot chocolate topped with lightly whipped cream. Heaven in a glass, basically.
[00:08:43] Miles: Okay. Solgt. Det lyder fantastisk. Især på en kold dag.
[00:08:47] Alessia: Exactly. And speaking of chocolate Turin’s reputation there is legendary.
[00:08:54] Miles: That’s what I hear. The chocolate capital.
[00:08:56] Alessia: Unequivocally, the chocolate capital of Italy. This isn’t a new fad. Turin is where solid bite-sized chocolate was invented back in the 19th century and it
[00:09:07] Miles: Jeg havde virkelig ingen anelse.
[00:09:09] Alessia: Yeah, the city’s still full of historic chocolate shops and artisan chocolatiers, um, you’ll find. Incredible chocolate almost everywhere. If you have a sweet tooth, Turin is dangerous in the best possible.
[00:09:25] Miles: Uhhuh, det kan jeg godt forestille mig. Men ud over caféer og smarte chokoladebutikker, hvad så med hverdagsting som markeder med friske fødevarer?
[00:09:32] Alessia: Porta Palazzo. You have to know about Porta Palazzo. Europe’s largest open air market. It’s huge, vibrant, bustling. You can find pretty much anything there. Fresh produce, meat, cheese, clothes, household stuff, a real sensory overload and great for people watching.
[00:09:54] Miles: Det lyder som en oplevelse.
[00:09:56] Alessia: Totally. And then there’s the Balon flea market every Saturday, even batter on the second Sunday of the month, it expands into the Gran Balon, a massive antiques market. Great for finding unique things and soaking up local atmosphere.
[00:10:14] Miles: Det er dejligt. Og hvis man vil give den gas med et særligt måltid. Nogle eksklusive steder?
[00:10:19] Alessia: Oh, yes, Turin has seriously good fine dining. Michelin star spots like the historic Ristorante Del Cambio, which looks incredible, and also Vintage 1997, known for being more innovative. So you’ve got options for those celebratory meals.
[00:10:38] Miles: Good to have the range. Culture is obviously a big draw for expats. What’s on offer in Turin beyond the food, art, museums, festivals?
[00:10:49] Alessia: It’s a rich cultural scene, loads of museums and art galleries, and there always seems to be something happening festival- wise. The Magic Towns guide specifically calls out cinema. Turin has a strong film history and hosts related events, and no surprise, a chocolate festival.
[00:11:12] Miles: Selvfølgelig en chokoladefestival.
[00:11:14] Alessia: What’s really cool is that Turin is known as Italy’s first Open Air Museum of Urban Art. Amazing murals and installations, transforming public spaces all over the city. Um, it’s a dynamic way to explore different neighborhoods and stumble upon art.
[00:11:36] Miles: Det lyder virkelig fedt. Meget anderledes. Og jeg ser altid billeder af Torino med de der overdækkede gangbroer med arkader.
[00:11:43] Alessia: The porticos, yes. They’re such a defining feature of the city. There are over 18 kilometers of them.
[00:11:51] Miles: 18 kilometers. Wow. They’re not just beautiful adding elegance, but super practical shelter from rain and winter, shade from sun and summer. It makes strolling around the city center, pleasant, whatever the weather and all the shops and cafes underneath have a unique feel.
[00:12:09] Alessia: Det kan jeg godt se for mig. Hvad med at flygte fra byen? Det er nemt at finde grønne parker.
[00:12:16] Miles: Absolutely. Turin does very well for green space. There’s the big Parco del Valentino along the Po River, Parco della Pellerina, and Parco Dora built on a former industrial site, so it has a post-industrial chic look. Statistics suggest Turin has a high amount of public green space per person in lots of trees that really boosts quality of life and the Colline di TorinoDe bakker, vi nævnte, er lige der, perfekte til vandre- og cykelture med en fantastisk udsigt.
[00:12:50] Alessia: This is all painting a very attractive picture, but moving abroad involves practical stuff. Big practical stuff. Let’s get into housing and the cost of living. How does Turin stack up?
[00:13:04] Miles: Right then? Nitty gritty. According to Magic Towns, this is one of Turin’s big selling points. It offers really good value, especially for a major city in northern Italy, significantly more affordable than places like Bologna eller Milano. Så du får den norditalienske livsstil uden helt det samme slag på pengepungen.
[00:13:22] Alessia: That’s appealing. Can you give us some actual numbers? What my rent or buying costs
[00:13:27] Miles: Til udlejning? En toværelses lejlighed kan koste alt fra ca. 360 til 1.500 euro om måneden, afhængigt af beliggenhed og stand.
[00:13:42] Alessia: Den topfart er stadig ikke vild for en storby.
[00:13:47] Miles: Præcis. Den gennemsnitlige husleje i byens centrum ligger på omkring 16 euro pr. kvadratmeter pr. måned. Hvis du overvejer at købe, er den gennemsnitlige købspris ca. 2.112 euro pr. kvadratmeter.
[00:14:02] Alessia: Nyttige benchmarks og samlede leveomkostninger pr. måned.
[00:14:07] Miles: Magic Towns giver et skøn på omkring 1.309 euro om måneden, inklusive husleje. Omkring 7.36 euro om måneden, eksklusive husleje. Individuelle udgifter varierer, men de giver dig et overblik.
[00:14:23] Alessia: Those figures sound more manageable than many other desirable European cities. What about healthcare? That’s always high on the list, especially for retirees.
[00:14:36] Miles: Sundhedsvæsenet i Torino er generelt af høj kvalitet. Faciliteterne er gode.
[00:14:40] Alessia: Er der et men?
[00:14:41] Miles: Som alle andre steder kan der være længere ventetider på nogle ting eller variationer i adgangen til højt specialiseret behandling. Men den overordnede standard er stærk. Den lokale offentlige udbyder er ASL Città di Torino, og Piemonte-regionen klarer sig også godt sammenlignet med landsgennemsnittet for visse medicinske ydelser, især behandling af hjertesygdomme og minimalt invasive brystkræftoperationer.
[00:15:12] Alessia: That’s reassuring. Getting around. The how easy is Turin to navigate?
[00:15:16] Miles: One guide calls it a walker’s paradise, which tells you a lot. The center is very pedestrian friendly, and lots is reachable on foot.
[00:15:24] Alessia: Godt, og til længere distancer.
[00:15:28] Miles: There’s an efficient public transport system, though it can get crowded at rush hour. Standard city stuff includes trams. The oldest network in Italy, a modern automatic metro. And a comprehensive bus system.
[00:15:43] Alessia: Og det digitale liv? Internettet er afgørende nu om dage.
[00:15:46] Miles: Crucial og Turin leverer. Magic Towns rapporterer om stærke forbindelser. Gennemsnitshastigheder omkring 295 megabit pr. sekund download og 171 megabit pr. sekund upload. Rigeligt til at arbejde hjemmefra. Eller streaming.
[00:16:04] Alessia: That’s fast. What about finding everyday essentials? Pharmacy, supermarket, gym, coffee shop,
[00:16:10] Miles: Everything’s readily available. Within about 10 kilometers of the center, you’ll find auto repair, banks, bars, cafes, cinemas, dentists, gyms, health clinics, libraries, museums, parks, pharmacies, restaurants, shopping centers, supermarkets, even spas.
[00:16:30] Alessia: So they’re not gonna be stuck for amenities.
[00:16:32] Miles: Weekend-flugt. Hvor tæt er stranden eller bjergene?
[00:16:35] Alessia: Temmelig tæt på. Hvis du vil slappe af ved søen, ligger Chalet del Lago ca. 35 minutters kørsel derfra. Ja, okay. Ikke Middelhavet, men stadig vand.
[00:16:49] Miles: Og bjerge som Alperne ligger lige der.
[00:16:51] Alessia: Og bjergbyen Valli di Lanzo ligger kun ca. 43 minutter i bil. Nem adgang til vandreture, skiløb og ægte alpelandskab. Det bedste fra begge verdener. At bo i byen med naturen lige ved hånden.
[00:17:08] Miles: Hvem er Torino egentlig til for? Hvem trives der?
[00:17:12] Alessia: Torino er fantastisk for expats, der ønsker en blanding af historie og moderne liv i et lidt langsommere tempo end Milano eller Rom. Pensionister nyder godt af overkommelige priser, rig kultur og et godt sundhedsvæsen. Udendørsentusiaster elsker at have Alperne i nærheden. Og foodies, især chokoladeelskere, vil være i himlen. Det stærke internationale samfund gør også byen indbydende.
[00:17:38] Miles: Vi bør være afbalancerede! Eventuelle ulemper eller udfordringer, som nyankomne bør forvente.
[00:17:43] Alessia: Navigating the healthcare system or other bureaucracy can take patience. Public transport gets crowded at peak times. The job market can be competitive, especially if your Italian isn’t fluent. And yes, Italian paperwork can move slowly.
[00:18:05] Miles: Hvad med uddannelsesmuligheder?
[00:18:07] Alessia: Torino er godt dækket ind. Inden for ca. 45 til 60 minutters pendling er der flere internationale eller tosprogede skoler, International School of Turin, International School of Torino, Victoria International School, det franske lycée Jean Giono, den tosprogede European School of Turin, International English School of Turin og den tosprogede skole Little England.
[00:18:33] Miles: Hold da op. Masser af valgmuligheder.
[00:18:35] Alessia: Desuden er Torino en stor universitetsby med det historiske Torino Universitet og det højt ansete Polytekniske Universitet i Torino.
[00:18:46] Miles: Let’s circle back to connectivity for travel. Airports, trains.
[00:18:53] Alessia: Den nærmeste lufthavn er Torino Lufthavn ca. 20 minutter fra byens centrum, hvor der er flere muligheder for langdistanceflyvninger. Milano Malpensa og Genova Lufthavn kan nås. Med tog har Torino to hovedstationer, Porta Nuova og Porta Susa, begge med højhastighedsforbindelser til andre italienske og internationale byer. Og som vi sagde, er internethastighederne stærke.
[00:19:15] Miles: Finally, weather and air quality. What’s the climate like and how breathable is the air?
[00:19:19] Alessia: Turin has varied seasons. Winters are generally mild, summers warm and often sunny. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread and there’s occasional light snow in winter, which looks pretty against the Alps.
[00:19:31] Miles: Fint.
[00:19:32] Alessia: I januar er der i gennemsnit minus 1,6 grader celsius og omkring 6,4 grader. I juli er der i gennemsnit 17,6 minusgrader og omkring 20 plusgrader, så det er en god sæson.
[00:19:49] Miles: Og luftkvalitet.
[00:19:50] Alessia: Overall, it’s balance and supports wellbeing. Fair for PM 10 and Ozone. Moderate for pm 2.5. Good for nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. Giving an overall rating of 82 out of 100. Decent for a city this size.
[00:20:06] Miles: Så vi tager det hele med hjem. Torino tilbyder en overbevisende blanding for potentielle expats og pensionister.
[00:20:14] Alessia: Helt sikkert. Dyb historie, levende kultur, fantastisk mad, relativt overkommelige priser, gode sundhedsydelser, masser af grønne områder, alt sammen med Alperne som kulisse.
[00:20:27] Miles: Og bare for at gentage det for alle, der lytter, så kommer hele dette dyk direkte fra Torino Expat Guide på Magic Towns Italiens hjemmeside.
[00:20:38] Alessia: Så vi opfordrer dig til selv at tjekke disse ressourcer ud og se, om Torino måske er noget for dig.
[00:20:44] Miles: And maybe a final thought. What specific part of Turin’s rhythm, history, elegance, industry, food, or nature, resonates most strongly with your idea of the perfect expat or retirement life in Italy? Something to mull over.
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