By Atiq Raja
My recent visit to Turin left a lasting impression of a city that has managed to hold its history and its future in careful balance. It is a place where old stone and new steel sit side by side without conflict, where heritage is not treated as something to be frozen behind glass but as a living part of daily urban life. What stood out most was not only the beauty of the city but the sense of intention behind its development, a feeling that change here has been guided rather than rushed.
Walking through the streets of Turin, the presence of history is immediate. Grand squares open suddenly between buildings, framed by arcades that carry centuries of memory. Palaces and churches stand with quiet confidence, their facades preserved with care that suggests both pride and discipline. These are not neglected relics of a distant past but active parts of the city’s identity. People pass them on their way to work, pause in their shade, and move through them as if history is a natural extension of modern life.
At the same time, Turin does not appear trapped in its past. The city has clearly invested in modern infrastructure that supports a smoother and more connected urban experience. Public transport is efficient and widely accessible, and there is a visible effort to ensure that services keep pace with the needs of residents. Roads, civic buildings and public facilities reflect a planning approach that is practical rather than ornamental. There is a sense that functionality has been treated as a civic responsibility rather than an afterthought.
Perhaps most striking is the attention given to the environment and public space. Parks are not occasional luxuries but an integral part of the urban fabric. Trees line streets in a way that softens the density of the built environment, and green areas are maintained with clear care. These spaces are used, not merely displayed. People walk, rest, exercise and gather in them, creating a rhythm of daily life that feels healthier and more open than in many larger European cities. The emphasis on greenery also signals a broader understanding of well-being that goes beyond infrastructure and economics.
Equally important is the social texture of the city. During conversations with residents, I encountered people from a wide range of backgrounds, including Italian locals as well as communities with roots in Pakistan, Africa, Asia and the Arab world. Their reflections were varied but shared a common theme of belonging. Many spoke of Turin as a place where public services are accessible and where everyday interactions with institutions feel straightforward rather than obstructed. There was a sense that the city administration is present in daily life in a way that is visible and responsive.
What was particularly notable was the repeated emphasis on fairness. People from different communities described a civic environment where they felt acknowledged rather than marginalised. This sense of inclusion did not appear to be framed as a policy slogan but as a lived experience. It suggested an administrative culture that values proximity to citizens and places importance on consistency in service delivery. While no city is without its challenges, the tone of these accounts reflected a degree of trust that is not easily earned in diverse urban settings.
This combination of heritage preservation, modern planning and social inclusion points to a broader model of governance. Turin appears to have developed an approach that does not treat these priorities as competing demands but as parts of a single civic project. The result is a city that feels stable without being stagnant, modern without being detached, and diverse without being fragmented.
I extend sincere appreciation to the city leadership and municipal teams whose work is reflected in this environment. Their efforts are visible not in isolated projects but in the overall coherence of the urban experience. The city feels managed with continuity and care, qualities that are often difficult to maintain in rapidly changing urban contexts.
There is also clear potential for further cooperation in areas such as youth development, skills training and institutional learning. Cities like Turin offer valuable lessons in how governance can be made more inclusive and how public spaces can be shaped to support both cultural identity and contemporary needs. Sharing such experiences can help strengthen urban communities beyond national boundaries.
Turin ultimately stands as more than a destination. It is an example of how a city can grow without losing its memory, and how progress can be pursued without erasing the foundations on which it rests.
(The writer is a rights activist and CEO of AR Trainings and Consultancy, with degrees in Political Science and English Literature, can be reached at news@metro-morning.com)
