Torino

Of all the fantastic, historical, timeless, beautiful and breathtaking places in Italy, no city does it for me like gray, industrial, hardworking and aloof Torino, simultaneously known as the "Detroit of Italy" and the "Italian Paris". The former because it is the home of Fiat and was once known more for factories than art. The latter because it was designed as a baroque rather than a medieval city, with wide avenues, gaudily decorated buildings, and rational grid-like pattern, making it look more like a French city. (No surprise really--it's practically next door.) But to me it's the mixture of the two that makes Torino exciting, not only a place of history and art (the undulating facade of the Palazzo Carignano is probably one of the best manifestation of baroque architecture), but also of people and everyday living.