Movement Torino: A Local's Guide to the City

As a Turin native, and the man behind the hugely respected Movement Torino music festival which once again returns to the city on 28-31 October, Maurizio Vitale is the only person we could think of to introduce us to beautiful city of Turin.

As we spoke about the city, it became clear that Maurizio Vitale is truly passionate about his home town – and he's got a good idea as to why the electronic music scene has flourished there…

What makes Turin the perfect home for Movement?

First of all, it's my hometown. Second, Torino has a very deep musical culture.

It's also a very central, well-positioned city within the European community so it's very well connected.

In a way it's the hometown of entrepreneurial culture. Not only music culture, but Torino is made up of entrepreneurs. There's a network, a culture, a vision, which belongs to the entrepreneur. So in a way it's easier to make business here than elsewhere.

And last but not least, it's a very beautiful city.

 

If you had to pick one thing about Turin – other than the festival of course – what would you say is your favourite thing about the city?

I would say there are three main things I love about Torino.

I love the hill, the positioning of the city and the view that you have is very unique.

Then I love the food and drink industry which is a world-leader. Today we – the city – just opened Salone del Gusto, which I think is the biggest food fair in the world. So I love the food and drink industry.

And third I love the culture that the city offers. Not only the museums, which are great, but in general the city is full of culture. We were the first capital, we made Italy, and the mix between the culture and the industrial heritage makes the city unique.

You mentioned the city's food, where are your favourite places to eat in Turin?

Today, I'd say that my favourite place to eat in the city is a restaurant called Il Banco. Banco Vini e Alimenti.

And also Lo Spaccio Alimentare is another very good restaurant.

And places to drink, where should people go while they're in town?

Actually, Banco is a very good mix. They claim to have the best biodynamic wine list in the whole of Italy. So you have a fantastic pick of wine there, as well as the food.

But Torino is probably the Italian city with the most bars, and the most cocktail bars per square metre. So there's a lot of nice places to choose from. Margò is a very lovely bar, I would recommend going there for a cocktail.

Having been in the city for so long, what changes have you seen?

It's much cleaner, there's more light. It's very well-renovated; it's much harder to see an old building that has not been renovated, and not only in the centre.

Basically what I see is the change from the industrial. We were used to being driven by manufacturing production. Now the system has evolved, and there are more entrepreneurs in the services industry. And that means a new vibe, a new attraction.

We are the biggest university city in Italy, there are over 100,000 students so that environment has changed completely. The focus is no longer on producing something physical, but it is on the services, information technology and intellectual property.

And this attracts new investment, new entrepreneurs, new students, and also new tourists.

In the same way that Detroit, where Movement started, is known as the automotive capital of America, Turin is the automotive capital of Italy. Was hosting it in Turin a deliberate nod to the origins in Detroit?

It wasn't actually deliberate, because as I say Torino is my home town and you start your new business ventures in the most comfortable environment. And for me the most comfortable environment in Italy is Torino, because here I have my family, my relationship, my business network, so it's easier to set up such a difficult new venture.

So it was a coincidence, but in fact Torino and Detroit do have a lot in common. The history of manufacturing and also the cultural history.

Also, the crises we passed through – they had General Motors and Ford, we had Fiat – although Torino never went bankrupt and Detroit did two or three times, both had to launch new forms of industry.

Obviously the city is known for it's history of classical music, opera, theatre and also cinema. But these days it has also become a hotbed for electronic music as well. Why do you think that is?

Torino to me is the home of entertainment in Italy. We were among the first to launch theatre, Torino is known for its theatre.

It is also known for its history of television and radio, RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiane), the main state-owned channel, was born in Torino.

Torino was also home to the first movie studios in Italy. Paris was number one, and then after Paris and the Lumiere brothers came Torino.

I see electronic music as the evolution of the city's entertainment industry. From theatre to television, from analogue to digital. Now there's an evolution to electronic music, a contemporary form of entertainment.

But I wouldn't say that electronic music should replace those other things, the dream and the ambition is to to maintain and preserve all form of entertainment.

And although today, in terms of audience and attendance, electronic music is probably leading, there wouldn't be an electronic music industry or culture here without theatre, cinema, radio or television.

Movement Torino 2017 takes place on 28-31 October. Find out more on our guide, and book your tickets and accommodation here.