Among the hospitals is that called by the name of its founder, Cottolengo, a vast institution providing for more than 7,000 persons.
The industries comprise metallurgy, machine-making, chemicals, silk and cotton weaving, tanning and leather-working, artificial silk and fibres, matches, candles, soap, furniture, perfumes, glass, damasks, velvets, woollens, ready made clothing, etc. The manu facture of motor-cars has become of great importance. Turin is the chief seat of the industry in Italy. Aeroplanes are also manufactured : and chocolate, liqueurs and vermouth are made. The application of electricity is widely developed on account of the proximity of the Alpine valleys, and the hydro-electric plants of the Mont Cenis, the Val d' Aosta, and the Toce valley all concentrate on Turin.
Milan, owing to its nearness both to the St. Gotthard and to the Simplon, is the most important railway centre of Italy. Turin is however nearest to the Mont Cenis, while the completion of the line through Cuneo over the Col di Tenda now affords direct communication with the French Riviera.
On the Hill of Superga (2,300 ft. above the sea) Victor Ama deus II. erected a basilica in memory of the liberation of Turin from the French in 1706. King Charles Albert and other Savoy princes are buried in the crypt. Not far from Turin are also the royal castles of Moncalieri, Stupinigi, Rivoli, Racconigi, Aglie, Venaria Reale.
Turin was made the chief town of Piedmont by Amadeus, first duke of Savoy. (See SAVOY, HOUSE OF.) Between 1536 and 1562 Turin was occupied by the French, and in 1630 it lost 8,000 of its citizens by the plague. The French were masters once more from 1640 to 1706, and again from 1798 till 1814, when Piedmont was restored to the house of Savoy.
The ancient Augusta Taurinorum was a city of Gallia Cisal pina, the chief town of the Taurini. The natural advantages of its site and its position with relation to the pass over the Alpis Cottia (Mont Genevre; see COTTII REGNUM) made it important, though Hannibal, after crossing the Alps in 218 B.c., was able to take it after a three days' siege. It was partly burned down in A.D. 69, but continued to be prosperous. The Roman town formed a rectangle 2,526 ft. by 2,33o (77o X 710 metres). This measure
ment is questioned by F. Haverfield, Ancient Town-Planning (Oxford, 1913) 87, but is confirmed by an article by U. Savoia in Town-Planning Review xii. (1927). The walls, which were 21 ft. high, 7 ft. thick at ground level and 3 ft. at the top, were standing till about 1600 ; and the north gate, the Porta Palatina, exists. The interior of the town was divided by seven streets from east to west and eight from north to south into 72 blocks (insulae), and the ancient pavement and the drains below it are frequently found under the streets of the central portion of the modern town, indicating that they follow the ancient lines. Re mains of a theatre have been discovered in the palace garden.
(T. A.) Battle of 1706.—Turin was besieged in 1706 by the French under La Feuillade (see SPANISH SUCCESSION, WAR OF THE) who was covered by another army under the duc d'Orleans. Eugene of Savoy (q.v.) marching to the relief of Turin with 30,00o Aus trians and Germans, eluded Orleans and in mid-August appeared before the French siege lines. The united armies of Feuillade and Orleans numbered over 70,00o men, but on Sept. 7 Eugene boldly attacked them in their entrenchments between the rivers Doria and Stura. After the usual artillery duel, Eugene gave the order to advance. The Brandenburgers on the left quickly got to within a few paces of the entrenchments, but were driven back by the French fire. Eugene then led the Germans on his left in a brilliant attack which stormed the entrenchments. Seeing this, Eugene's cousin, the duke of Savoy, attacked the French centre and, after three repulses, stormed it, Orleans being wounded, and his lieu tenant, Marshal Marsin, killed. The French tried to rally, but the garrison of Turin took part in the discomfiture of the fugitives. Feuillade raised the siege and joined Orleans in a disorderly re treat. Each side had about 3,00o killed and wounded, but 6,000 prisoners fell into Eugene's hands and French prestige in Northern Italy was destroyed.