Murazzi del Po. Torino, River embankment and entertainment district in central Torino, Italy.
The Murazzi del Po is a long stone embankment on the west bank of the Po in central Turin, with a row of tall arched openings at water level and a paved walkway above. Behind the walkway rise multi-storey buildings. The arches house former boat sheds, now partly reopened as bars and restaurants.
The first sections were built in the 1830s to stabilize the river bank and protect the city from flooding. The project drew on earlier designs and evolved over time as Turin grew and the river's role in city life changed.
The name comes from the embankment walls built in the 19th century to protect Turin from Po floods. From the second half of the 1970s, licensing of venues, a river navigation service and a night police patrol turned the arches into a youth gathering place. In 2012 a magistrates' inquiry closed most bars on both sides; about half of the Magazzini Devalle arches reopened in 2022.
This area is easily walkable and centrally located, making it a popular stroll for visitors and locals alike. Be aware that water levels can rise significantly during heavy rainfall, and some lower sections may be temporarily flooded.
The embankment's two stretches are named after Turin singer-songwriters Fred Buscaglione and Gipo Farassino, north and south of the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I. The city approved the naming in 2014, and the ceremony took place on 28 September 2017 with the families present.
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