HOW CAN WE VISIT THE EXPOSITION

FIRST ITINERARY (in only one day)

That great modern fervor that condemns us to live a life so very intense in both thought and action in just a single day, and forces us to accumulate a sum of impressions, visions, sensations in just a few hours (our grandparents would have been stunned, even if these sensations had been spread out over a month) and that big hurry that is the singular characteristic of our time suggest that I sketch an itinerary to visit—or, to be more precise, to see the fair—in only one day. The same fervor and hurry had already suggested that I sketch an itinerary to quickly visit Turin in two days.

Therefore: the first condition of our program is to meet punctually at the main entrance(on the corner of Vittorio Emanuele and Cairoli Avenues) at opening time. Lets not get there on foot, as there will be much walking to do inside and outside of the magnificent halls.

Having said this, off we go!

From the main entrance, to the left, we enter the Palace of Fashion (Palazzo della Moda). Exiting from here, to the right, lets meet in the Pavilion of Art Applied to Industry (Arte Applicata allIndustria) from where—via the internal hallways—we proceed first toward the interesting Exhibition of the Modern City (Mostra della Citt Moderna) and then to that of the City of Turin (Mostra della Citt di Torino).

Once outside, if we feel like it, we can make a quick detour to the right where, in the grand avenue next to the Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), there are the Temporary Exhibitions (Mostre Temporanee).

Back from this detour, lets go down towards the left where there is the Pavilion of Hungary (Mostra dellUngheria). Then, as we stroll on the beautiful suspended road (strada pensile) over the river Po, we can admire the magnificent panorama of the right bank of the river, with all the imposing buildings against the green background of the hill.

Moving on, we find the Exhibition of the City of Marseille (Mostra della Citt di Marsiglia) and the Exhibits of some of the French Colonies (Colonie Francesi).

Going up once again toward the grand avenue and passing beyond the imposing mass of the Valentino Castle (Castello del Valentino), we see the Aquarium (Acquario) on the left, with the Fishing and Hunting Exhibit (Mostra di Pesca e di Caccia). On the right is one of the most suggestive examples of the Fair: The Alpine Village (Villaggio Alpino). This exhibition is organized by the Italian Alpine Club.

Leaving the Alpine Village and going to the right one finds, almost adjacent, The Model Hotel of the Italian Touring Club (Albergo Modello del Touring Club Italiano), which includes the Exhibit of the Touring Club (Opera del Sodalizio).

Exiting from this Exhibit and walking just a little bit further, the visitors eyes will be struck by an unforgettable spectacle: to the right, they will admire the Festival Pavilion (Palazzo delle Feste) and to the left, just past the Royal Navy Exhibition (Mostra della Marina), theyll see the entrance, via a magnificent staircase – to the Monumental Bridge (Ponte Monumentale). On the other side of the Monumental Bridge, on the hill, is the Castle of the Waters (Castello delle Acque), with a truly fantastic sight.

Now lets take a short stroll on the bridge, giving, on the way back, a panoramic glance to the interesting Pavilion of the City of Paris (Mostra della citt di Parigi), which is found on our left. Then, lets enter the Telegraph, Telephone and Postal Service Exhibit Building (Palazzo della Mostra Telegrafica e Telefonica Postale), very interesting for the professionals and fascinating even for the amateurs, and go on to the Festival Pavilion (Palazzo delle Feste). From the central hall we continue to the left and we find ourselves at the Exhibition of Musical Instruments (Mostra degli stumenti musicali). From here we go on towards the grand Electricity Hall (Galleria dell'elettricità). Lets proceed through this gallery, which also contains the Swiss Exhibition (Mostra della Svizzera). Next, well see the very interesting Exhibition of the Wonders of Electricity (Mostra delle Meraviglie dell'Elettricità) and, finally, on the floor above, is the Exhibition of Professional Teaching (Mostra dell'Insegnamento Professionale) and the Philatelist Exhibition (Mostra Filatelica).

Lets go outside now. Here we are on the grand square, surrounded by columns, in the middle of which is the most beautiful modern monument of Turin: the equestrian statue of the Prince Amedeo.

From the right of this square we enter the immense and impressive Machinery Hall (Galleria del Lavoro e delle Macchine in Azione). At the end of this gallery, on the left, we enter first into the Pavilion of the Newspaper (Palazzo del Giornale) where there are also all the various and diverse complementary exhibitions. On the next floor is the Exhibition of Jewelry and Goldsmiths Art (Mostra di Gioielleria ed Oreficeria), and then, from the same Pavilion of the Newspaper we may enter the immense Pavilion of England (Mostra dell'Inghilterra).

Those of us who must view the whole fair in a single day cannot give the Electricity and Machinery Halls, the Exhibition of the Newspaper, and the Pavilion of England the careful examination that they deserve, given their great importance. But a quick glance will at least grant the mind an unforgettable general memory.

Leaving the English Section and descending slightly to the left of the beautiful fountain, which majestically decorates the entrance to the Pavilion of England, one encounters the Tobacco Exhibit (Mostra dei Tabacchi) and the Turkish Section (Sezione Turca). Descending further we visit the Medieval Castle (Castello Medioevale) and the Retrospective Exhibition of the Art of the Printing Press (Mostra Retrospettiva dell'Arte della Stampa). Exiting we find the Russian Exhibition (Mostra della Russia). Having seen these exhibitions, we shall proceed along the grand avenue until we reach the underpass that, after crossing under Dante Avenue (Corso Dante), will put us in the middle of the Amusement Park on the left bank. This Amusement Park is connected, via elevated railroad (ferrovia aerea) to the Amusement park on the right bank, where there is also the Kermesse.

Still on the left bank of the river, and beyond the Amusement Park, we find the Exhibition of the Province of Turin (Mostra della Provincia di Torino) and a few other exhibits that are of special importance for the technicians of the things displayed; namely the Exhibits of Public Works, Mechanics, Metallurgy, and Railway Material (Materiale Ferroviario). Here there is also the Popular Restaurant (Ristorante Popolare).

A bridge invites us to cross the river Po to visit, or at least to see, the so-called Exhibits of the Borgo Pilonetto (Mostre del Borgo Pilonetto). There are many exhibits here, and they are all of exceptional importance.

It is up to the visitors to choose which interests them more, keeping in mind the little time that remains to still see the big section of the Americas (Americhe) and those of Germany (Germania), France (Francia), Belgium (Belgio) and Serbia (Serbia).

The bridge leads us to the splendid Court of Honor, from which, turning to the left, well see the Exhibition of Italians Abroad (Mostra degli Italiani allEstero), well worthwhile visiting since it demonstrates the great virtue of work with which our faraway brothers give respect and indeed honor to the name of Italy far from the motherland.

If we proceed in a straight line, we will find ourselves in an immense gallery where there are the Mineral Mining Exhibition (Mostre delle Industrie Estrattive Chimiche), the Exhibition of War (Guerra), with the Experimental War Training Field (Campo sperimentale della Guerra), and the Exhibition of Agriculture (Mostra dellAgricoltura). Proceeding further we find the Exhibition of the Red Cross (Mostre della Croce Rossa), in which one can see the entire Red Cross Train, the Exhibition of the Automobile (Automobilismo), that of Aeronautics (Aeronautica) and the Road Transportation Exhibit (Mostra Stradale). These last three are international.

On the right, that is on the right of the Court of Honor, which is at the entrance to all these sections, we find the Exhibitions of Manufacturing Industries (Mostre delle Industrie Manifatturiere), and in a special section a very interesting exhibit about Japan.

And now, with one of the steamboats that plough through the waves of the Po, we proceed to the Exhibition of Serbia (Mostra della Serbia). We take a quick tour of the Pavilion of Siam (Siam) and we admire that of the United States (Stati Uniti).

We get back on the steamboat and we go toward the grand Pavilion of Germany. Lets visit it. Lets pause, upon exiting, in front of the imposing steps of the Monumental Bridge (Ponte Monumentale) and of the Castle of the Waters. Lets visit the tunnels of the Bridge, experience the emotion of strolling out and back on the tapis roulant (moving sidewalk) and then enter the magnificent Pavilion that hosts the Exhibition of France.

From this moment onwards, we will no longer have to leave the galleries. Adjacent to the French Exhibition are the Belgian, Brazilian, Latin American, and Argentinean Republic Exhibitions.

There so are many marvelous things to see that we dont even feel the physical tiredness of such an intense day.

Here we are in the last halls of the Pavilion of the Argentine Republic. The guards inform us with kind warnings that it is closing time.

One last emotion: we cross the river with the elevated railroad and we find ourselves once again at the point from which we departed in the morning, namely the main entrance.

SECOND ITINERARY (in six days)

And now that, with a quick panoramic view, we have seen in a single day the entire and immense Fair where the Industry and Labor of the entire world tell us the story of their triumph, lets collect ourselves. We need to think of organic criteria with which we can get to know a bit more deeply all the grand and noble things, and all the new and beautiful objects, which are displayed here in good order and with insightful criteria.

After having done my best to show the beautiful and grand Turin in five days, someone could accuse me of lacking civic duty if I propose to spend six days to visit only the new, improvised white city—that is the Fair!

But I think that he who in five days has got to know Turin a little bit, will return time after time to the august metropolis of Old Piedmont; because to know Turin a little bit is to love it a great deal. In the coming stays he will discover on his own new things that he had not seen on previous visits.

And as for the Fair? It is useless to say: I will return! The Fair has a life of but a few months, after which, where now are grandiose buildings and gracious pavilions, they will be only barren land, as before the Fair. Barren? Maybe not... because there will be blossoms, which will remind us that a dream bloomed in this in this big strip of land—a grand dream that by then will have vanished.

So here is a practical itinerary for visiting the Fair in six days. Of course, every day we shall start from a different entrance; this is to avoid wasting time and revisiting what has already been seen. Of course, he who has less than six days at his disposal, will have only to put together a few of those different days, lingering in those exhibitions which interest him more and speeding up in those that interest him less.

Therefore:

First Day: Starting from the main entrance, we visit, on the left, the Palace of Fashion. Then, leaving from there, we shall proceed to the right through the majestic building of Art Applied to Industry, continuing to the Exhibition of the Modern City and that of the City of Turin via the corridors that connect them.

Lets exit and go down to the left (unless we wish to make a brief stop, on the right, at the Temporary Exhibitions that are held in the small boulevard in front of the Botanical Garden); lets go down, as I said, to the left and visit the entire interesting Pavilion of Hungary.

Exiting from the Exhibition of Hungary, we visit the Exhibition of the City of Marseille. Afterwards, we will come straight to the Aquarium with the connected Fishing and Hunting Exhibit.

Lets return then onto the grand avenue and immediately, on our right, we shall be invited to do a short visit to the Alpine Village of the Italian Alpine Club, with its characteristic little church. An exhibition nearby contains an entire collection of works that illustrate and help us appreciate the high mountains.

Leaving the Exhibition of the Alpine Club, another exhibition, no less interesting, will beckon and enthrall us: that of the Model Hotel built under the aegis of the Italian Touring Club.

And with the magnificent memory of this exhibition in our minds and hearts, we will have worthily brought our first day to a close.

Second Day: Lets enter from the entrance on Massimo D'Azeglio Avenue, almost in front of Valentino Boulevard. We shall make our first stop in the Royal Navy Exhibition on the left. Then, after having admired the magnificent and dramatic view that offers entry to the Monumental Bridge, with its magnificent steps and the wondrous Castle of the Waters against the scenic background of the hill, we will enter the Telegraph, Telephone, and Postal Service Exhibit Building, which also includes the Exhibition of Musical Instruments. Having visited these, we continue, to the right, into the grand Festival Pavilion. Through this hall, we shall enter into the big gallery which combines the interesting Exhibitions of Electricity, Professional Teaching, and Wonders of Electricity. In a special area, we shall also see the Swiss Exhibition.

Lets exit onto the grand colonnaded square, and pay the homage of our admiration to the work of art that made Davide Calandra famous: the monument of Amedeo of Savoy. Then we enter into immense Machinery Hall.

When we will have attentively visited all of it, the second day will be over. A thousand different impressions will run around our mind; but one incredibly beautiful impression will dominate the rest, that is the one of the fervor and great industriousness of our time.

Third Day: Entering from the imposing entrance that is on Massimo D'Azeglio Avenue, in front of Raffaello Boulevard, lets go directly to the Pavilion of the Newspaper where there is also the complex Exhibition of the Art of the Printing Press. A good part of our time shall be spent in these two exhibitions alone, if we want to see them properly and make the most of them. From the inside of the same Pavilion of the Newspaper we will be able to enter the grandiose Pavilion of England on the left.

Then we will descend to visit the Tobacco Exhibit, and then that one which is not far from it, namely the Pavilion of Turkey, particularly interesting, given the particular nature of these people that now seek contact with Western civilization.

From the Turkish section, lets go down towards the river and visit the Medieval Castle, which contains the Retrospective Exhibition of the Art of the Printing Press. Then we shall enter the Pavilion of Russia.

Lets retrace our steps. Crossing the grand avenue—we enter the evocative Pavilion of the City of Paris which we find almost next to the Monumental Bridge.

With the magnificent lights of the Ville Lumire, we will have worthily brought our third day to a close.

Fourth Day: From the entrance on the right of Dante Boulevard, next to the Isabella Bridge, we immediately arrive to the cheerful Amusement Park on the left bank, which the elevated railroad connects with the Amusement park on the right bank. Lets turn to the right where an entire series of imposing buildings beckons us. In these buildings are the Exhibitions of the Province of Turin, of Public Works, Mechanics, Metallurgy, and Railway Material.

After these exhibitions, which will attract especially the experts in these different fields, we will cross the bridge that leads us to the Exhibitions of Pilonetto. These exhibitions are many and varied and very interesting and they are grouped in two buildings.

In the first are: to the right of the courtyard that forms the principal entrance, the Exhibition of Italians Abroad; in front, in an enormous gallery, the Mineral Mining Exhibition. The Exhibition of War is placed near the Experimental War Training Field. In the back, we shall see the Exhibition of Agriculture and that of Agricultural Machinery. Having seen these exhibitions, we turn to the left; we now visit the Exhibition of the Red Cross, the Road Transportation Exhibit, and that of all the Sports, including the Exhibition of Aeronautics and that of the Automobile. Going around the buildings from left to right and going back from when we came, we will be able to visit the exhibitions of all the Manufacturing Industries. After seeing the very interesting Exhibition of Japan we shall finally find ourselves once again in the principal courtyard.

From here, lets move on to the Amusement Park with its Kermesse.

And thus, also the fourth day will leave in our minds the most varied and lasting impressions.

Fifth Day: Entering from the second entrance on Moncalieri Avenue, or even from the entrance on Dante Boulevard and (in this case) crossing the Po with the steamboat, we will visit the Exhibition of Serbia, then that of Siam, and the Pavilion of The United States of America. After these exhibitions, so varied and so interesting for the new and beautiful things that they offer us, a big exhibition will be enough to fill up the rest of day, and that is the Exhibition of Germany, which extends wondrously over 10,000 square feet of covered space.

Lets exit the German Pavilion. Let us delight, at the end of many hours so well spent, in the emotion of crossing the Monumental Bridge on the tapis roulant (moving sidewalk) ,which is in its central tunnel.

Sixth Day: Entering from the first entrance on Moncalieri Avenue, or even from the principal entrance and crossing (in this case) the River Po via the elevated railway, or with a short ride on the steamboat, we enter the Exhibition of the Republic of Argentina. Lets proceed, via the uninterrupted internal passageways, to the Exhibition of Latin America, then to that of Brazil and finally to that of Belgium.

The last one remaining to be visited is that of France. And I left on purpose the exhibition of our sister-nation, which was the first to respond cordially and warmly to the invitation of the Committee to the Nations of the entire world. Each Italian visitor will be very grateful to me, since he will be able to leave the Great Fair associating in his heart a deep feeling of pride for Italys magnificent performance, and a sincere sentiment of admiration for the powerful depth with which France—Italys Latin sister—was able to show the varied activities of its own national life.