Zoo di Torino, Former zoological garden in Parco Michelotti, Turin, Italy.
The Turin Zoo was a zoological facility in Turin featuring enclosures for mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish across 50,000 square meters along the Po River between two bridges. The grounds were strategically positioned between the river banks and provided ample space for diverse animal species.
Turin established the zoo on October 21, 1955, with animal populations sourced from Vienna, Rome, Munich, Basel, and Cologne. It became the first zoological garden to close in Italy in 1987, marking a significant shift in how the country approached animal welfare.
The former zoo structures now display murals created by local artists, transforming the grounds into an open-air gallery space. These artworks serve as a visual reminder of the animals that once inhabited the site.
The site was transformed into a public park in 2018 with new lighting, benches, and a 600-meter promenade along the Po River. Access is free and the space works well for walking and exploring the artworks on the former structures.
Before closure, the facility housed approximately 120 mammals, 800 birds, 100 reptiles, and 1,500 fish from various climate zones. This substantial collection was remarkable for its time and made it an important learning resource for zoology in northern Italy.
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