Ivrea is a city in the metropolitan area of Turin known for its pretty historic buildings, the annual battle of the oranges and the UNESCO-listed industrial complex. Built here at the beginning of the 20th century, the Olivetti plants were recognized as one of the world's best examples of an industrial building connected with the idea of a new society.
The history of Ivrea is related to the reign of the Savoy dynasty in these areas. With short breaks caused by wars with France and its domination in the region from the Middle Ages to the unification of Italy, it belonged to the hereditary goods of the counts and then the kings of Savoy.
This period has left many interesting monuments in Ivrea. They include the 14th-century castle, which was repeatedly extended, erected by Amadeus VI of Savoy, the city palace and the cathedral, the origins of which date back to the 4th century. The church has a Romanesque body from around 1000, but is decorated with a 19th-century neoclassical facade. Inside, you can see valuable early Renaissance frescoes.
One of the attractions of Ivrea is the UNESCO-listed industrial zone of the Olivetti factory from the beginning of the 20th century. It now functions as an Open-Air Museum of Contemporary Architecture. Here you can see the momentum with which a modern industrial district was designed, consisting not only of factories, but also houses for workers, social and cultural facilities. The buildings of the Olivetti factory are often called the ideal industrial city.
