Greetings all!
It’s been a fun and exhausting last few days as we have roamed around Turin on Days 6 & 7 of our trip. Here’s a picture of the shroud, which we just happened to run across, like you do.
To be fair, it’s not the real Shroud of Turin, but an exact copy at the Real Eglise Turino. In other words, it’s the shroud they show off to protect the real one.
Bonus points to anyone who knows why this makes me think of Leonard Nimoy.
Anyway…
Yesterday started with a trip to a trim and cord manufacturer, Massio. They started in the 1600s and are still going, now with tools from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They have amazing looms, and yes I have pictures.
They also make cords for decorations, like ones that hold up chandeliers or get added to Napoleonic-era uniforms or modern dress uniforms. Their list of clients is impressive and includes the Italian Navy, the Bolshoi, and a host of royalty.
They showed how they make stuff, including looms that use punch cards for intricate trim designs. Another example was making a green and gold cord. Neat stuff.
After the trim factory, we went to Central Market of Turin. If you’ve never seen an Old World market square, then it’s hard to describe their swirling chaos.
It’s also here where we had lunch. The wife and I opted for pizza, a diavolo for me and a neapolitano for her. Then we had gelato.
After that we went to the Piazza Castello where we moseyed over to the Massio trim store. It was an impressive selection. My wife actually stepped out, though, because we saw a yarn store as we walked. She got yarn. I found a cafe and got a prosecco. Good choices on both of our parts.
After that was a nap and dinner. I suspect “nap and dinner” will be a consistent phrase, as I’m typing this up after doing just that, but I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.
So then came today. We started by roaming around Turin, seeing some cool things here and there. Then we got to the Real Eglise.
This place was amazing. A Baroque masterpiece with all the possible trimmings one might want. Glorious. Beautiful. These sorts of churches make it easy to believe in God, and it could have been even better on a sunny day.
And then we went to the room that held the Shroud of Turin. Yes, it could be a medieval fake, but it’s majestic in its own right. Again, easy to see Jesus in its presence, it’s just that powerful.
After that, we wandered through various lovely areas before ending up at the Barrata Milano, which is an old cafe here. It was delightful. I had a bicerin, which is a shot of espresso with a bunch of chocolate and whipped cream. Tasty!!!
From there we went to the Egyptian Museum, which is actually the second largest such museum in the world. Neat exhibits, especially the ones on textiles and tunics. Plus so much more.
That’s a great day, but we weren’t done. We went to Perayta, which is an old top shelf chocolatier. We got to tour their factory and then make our own chocolate plus have a tasting including one made special for Ferrari.
And then there’s some client named Elon…
Elon and I get the same chocolate!!!
Oh, and did I mention we got to decorate our own slab o’ chocolate? I may take a picture of that. I may eat it first. We’ll see.
Tonight was a nap then dinner, then hanging out. Tomorrow we’re off to Milan.
See you there!
Will you run into Mark Stallins while you are over there?
Chocolate, crafts, pizza, the Shroud, and gelato. 😎😋