TURIN, an ancient, populous, strong, handsome, flourishing city of Italy, and capital of Piedmont, where the sovereign resides, with an archbishop's see, a strong citadel, and an university. It is seated on a vast plain, at the confluence of the rivers Doria and Po. It is one of the handsomest places in Italy; but the air is unhealthy in the autumn and winter on account of the thick fogs. One half of this place is lately built; and the streets are straight and clean, being washed by an aqueduct. The two largest streets are the New-street and that of the Po, which are lighted in the winter-time. The houses are handsome, and all built of the same height. The ducal palace consists of two magnificent structures, joined together by a gallery, in which are several statues, all sorts of arms, the genealogy of the dukes of Savoy, a representation of the celestial signs, a royal library, and many other curiosities. Besides these two structures, there is the palace of the prince of Carignano, the hospital of St John, the seminary of the Jesuits, the royal hospital, and the metropolitan church of St John, wherein they pretend to keep the cloth in which is the print of the face of Jesus Christ. These are all superb structures. When the plague reigned at Marcellis in 1720, a great number of artificers withdrew to Turin; insomuch that there are now above 87,000 inhabitants, and 48 churches and convents. Turin is very well fortified, and extremely strong; as the French found by experience in 1756, who then besieged it a long while to no purpose. The citadel, which is flanked with five bastions, is without doubt a masterpiece of architecture. There are very fine walks on the ramparts, which require two hours to pass round them. There are also very
fine gardens on the side of the river Po; and the house commonly called La Charité is remarkable, as there is room for 3000 poor people. The college of the academy is very large and well built, and has a great number of ancient inscriptions. In the royal library are 19,000 manuscripts, besides 30,000 printed books. It is charmingly seated at the foot of a mountain, 62 miles north east of Genoa, 72 south-west of Milan, and 280 north-west of Rome. E. Long. 7. 45. N. Lat. 44. 50.