Turin is an ancient city, many see it as a grey and industrial city without any interesting attractions, but it's not real; it has a lot of traditions coming from its royal history.
A lazy Saturday afternoon I decided to rediscover one that still distinguishes Turin: the Bicerin.
In the eighteenth century the breakfast of Turin people (who has the money to have it) was the "bavareisa"; a drink based on coffee, chocolate and milk, served in a glass. A century later, thanks to the container, a small glass with metal support and handle, will be called "Bicerin” (that means “small glass” in local language).
The ingredients of "Bicerin, always served in a glasses and very hot, are always the same: coffee, milk and chocolate.
In a small square of Turin, “piazza della Consolata”, there is an equally small local called Bicerin that saw the birth of the same-named drink; it still jealously keeps intact the traditional recipe, so I sit down and I ordered a Bicerin!
It is a boiling delicacy consisting of just made espresso, chocolate (prepared with a secret proceeding) and fresh milk cream.
So I was there sipping an hot and sweet chocolate drink, on the door of a place that was the same since the nineteen century.
On the other side of the square, I could admire the ancient walls of the Consolata modernized and redefined by Juvarra and Guarini, and built on the site of the fifth century church of St. Andrew, with its bell tower dating back to XI century.
The inscription on the top says "Consolatrix afflictorum".
But Turin people, even when they knew the Latin, have never wanted to translate it literally, for centuries, it is the “Consolà” (the comforted).
Inside there is hundreds of drawings and pictures to thank the Holy Virgin for this or that grace received; in those drawings you can read the stories of many citizens who escape from a sure death during the war or simply that were saved by lightning.
After this regeneration both in the body and spirit, we can just turn the corner to find ourself in Via Garibaldi which leads to Piazza Castello where we can admire the royal residences of Savoy.
