Not just any story...
a bizarre journey through those places in Turin marked by the passage of illustrious people, whom we have not been told everything about…
Tuttaltrastoria (not just any story) is a city walking tour unique in its kind. Created as part of the 'Friendly Piemonte' project, the initiative is run by the Quore Association for the promotion of Turin and its region for the gay community.
The Tuttaltrastoria tour offers an unconventional perspective on the history of Turin and the Piemonte region through an evocative narration centred around the life of 12 illustrious figures: men and women who made their mark in our region, who lived through determining periods of its history and who even, in some cases, inspired change.
From an investigation into the private life of these people unexpected events emerge, stories that have often been hidden by scholars and in official biographies. The promenade in search of these stories, trivia and hidden treasures is narrated in either English or Italian and is led by a special tour guide that will captivate and fascinate you with a great deal of details.
The journey takes place in the centre of Turin, on foot, and lasts around 2 hours.
So enjoy the trip, which will begin with “once upon a time”, but this is not just any story.
 Gaius Julius Caesar 101 – 44 BC He came to Turin for the first time in 58 BC on his way to conquering Gaul. He was the unquestioned Lord of the Empire though Bibulo, his colleague and consul at the time, used to call him the “Queen of Bitinia”. What could have happened when he travelled during his youth that caused his legions to sing: “Caesar subdued Gaul, but Nicomedes subdued Caesar”? |
 Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam 1466 – 1536 He was a Dutch theologian and scholar who wrote the definitive version of a number of classics with his own quill, but also wrote the words “I have become so entirely yours that there is nothing left of myself”. Who where these words for? |
 Christina of Sweden 1626 – 1689 She was the envy of the king because she “rode like a man” and because she was a woman of voracious appetite. She, one day, made an English ambassador bow in the presence of someone whose beautiful appearance and soul she praised. Who was this person? |
 Torquato Tasso 1544 – 1595 Poet and historiographer of Ferrara's ducal court, he was a man with a very strong personality. What was the servant that Tasso knifed spying on from behind a curtain? For whom did he write the beautiful verses “Certainly you are Love, who inspires love, and such/that I become an affectionate lover”? Why did he lose his mind? |
 Prince Eugenio of Savoy 1663 -1736 Genius of the Austria's military strategy, he won all battles against the Ottoman Empire, though he was called “Mars without Venus”. Who told him during a storm “Sodomites shall not fear water as only fire can destroy them”? And why was he told this? |
 Princess Marie Louise of Savoy 1749 – 1792 She was better known as Princess of Lamballe and a rose Alba was dedicated to her. After fleeing to England she returns to Paris to help carry out an escape from the Bastille but she is arrested and tortured and eventually pays with her life. Who was she trying to help free? |
 Leonardo Da Vinci 1492 – 1519 He has been the supreme example of genius of the Renaissance, one of the greatest minds of all times, yet he was imprisoned twice for “misconduct”. Why? Who was Jacopo Saltarelli, who caused him to spend an extra two months in prison? To whom did he leave his precious papers when he died? |
 Michelangelo 1475 – 1564 He was an Italian sculptor, painting, architect and poet whose work was commissioned by the most powerful men of the Renaissance. He wrote marvellous sonnets about his burning flames of love. But before publishing them his nephew modified the content. What did he have to hide? |
 Friederich Nietzsche 1844 – 1900 One of the main western philosophers of all times he lived in Turin, in Piazza Carignano, where he suffered from his first public explosions of madness. What was said about his Sicilian travels? What rumours did the composer Richard Wagner spread about him? |
 Giovanni Antonio Bazzi 1477 – 1549 He was an Italian Renaissance painter. He painted marvellous works permeated by sentimental languor. He liked to dress up elegantly and extravagantly and to attend a variety of mundane events. His lifestyle earned him a very famous nickname that he was proud of. What was this nickname? |
 Eleonora Duse 1854 – 1924 She was one of the most famous Italian theatre actresses during the last part of the 17th century. Who said about her: “She came to my house, tall, beautiful, sweet, big, with that smile that seem to reveal infinity, and she kissed me. She kissed me and she asked me if the love had grown; why does love have to grow?” |
 Umberto II of Italy 1904 – 1983 He was lieutenant general of the Kingdom of Italy from 1944 to 1946 and king from 9th of May until 18th of June 1946. To whom he apparently gave a cigar-lighter with the inscription “Say yes to me”? And why did his young officials have a bluebottle on their collar? |
