Hi everyone,

My husband and I and our two girls will be moving to Turin (or Torino!) this summer. My husband's company had recommended we enroll our daughters, who will be in 6th and 4th grade, at the International School there.
Any advice on the best location to live relative to the school? My husband will be commuting to Avio but is willing to take a longer drive to be closer to the school. Is living in Moncalieri the way to go?

Thanks for any guidance-this is a scary but exciting prospect!

Moving the post to the new Education in italy forum. A.T.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AliceTwain,

Hi Betty,
My husband, son and I moved to Torino in August. We enrolled our son at ACAT ( American International School of Torino) in 9th grade. We moved from Philadelphia, Pa. where we lived downtown for the last 20 years. We opted to move into Torino, about 15 - 20 minutes outside of Moncalieri because we prefer city living. I have found that many families live in the hills (houses on the hillside) in either Moncalieri or Chieri. You are very close to the school in Moncalieri and if you will be driving, can easily get your children to and from school.Chieri is further away and many children ride the school bus from there.
If you have any questions about the school keep posting on the forum.
good luck, Donna

Thanks Donncoop
We're learning little bits and pieces about where to live and where not to live. As suburbanites, we're used to "house" living, but since we're going to be temporary, we would consider city living as well. Thanks for the info.

Hi again,

Well, we're much further in our process of moving. We visited about two weeks ago-Torino is such a lovely city!
We found a perfect house in La Crocetta. We've just sent in our applications to ACAT- any advice for adjustment in the summer? We plan on arriving at the end of July. Any summer programs at the school? How about any other summer programs in the area for girls entering 6th and 4th grade? Thanks!

It seems a shame Betty, your kids are still young enough to absorb quite well into an Italian school (If I have the ages right - abouy 8 & 10 am not that familiar with grades)

For me (I have 4 little boys) the decision time is when they hit 14 and I am not so pleased with their options.

Hi Betty and Donna,

How did you find your homes in Turin? Did you use an agency? Could you recommend one? I've looked at the Solo Affitti and Tecnocasa websites to get an idea of how much rent is in the area. But am wondering if there are better agencies to use in Turin. My husband and I are looking for an apartment in the center...we really don't know Turin that well. Have only visited a couple times and had a friend who lived near Gran Madre. We will be 3 soon (our first baby is due at the end of July!) My husband will begin his new job mid-September... so we kind of need to find our new home quickly! So much going on in the next few months! Any suggestions you can give would be great!

Amy

Hi Amy,

Wow-you really are busy-a baby, and moving too! We were lucky and had our house search handled by my husband's company so I don't really know much about agencies.
We found an apartment in the La Crocetta area which is near the center but has a nice residential feel. We're moving next week (yikes!) and will be in Turin by July 25.
Good luck with everything and please let me know when you make the move-maybe we can get together in Turin!

Betsy

Hi Betty (and other Expats in Turin)!

We arrived in Turin about a week ago and just got our internet hooked up. I wanted to ask if you knew anything about the International Women's Club of Torino. I emailed them today to find out info.

Our little Marcello was born August 7th...and then we had to apartment hunt and prepare for our move here. I'm still trying to get the hang of being a mommy (I'm a newbie!)...so much happened all at once! We're starting to feel a bit more settled now. At least there are no more boxes sitting in the living room anymore! I hope we can be in touch! I'd love to be in touch with other expats in Turin as well! So feel free to contact me! Here's my email: amygordon100@hotmail.com

Amy

I'm planning to move to Torino with my family in between summer and new year 2009 and I'm already trying to get info. for my elder son's school (he'll go to first grade!). I whould like to put him into an English speaking school, ACAT came up but it seems to be very expensive. Do you know of any other option? Lorenz

It seems that this is the Turin strand... my son and I are moving to Turin in June and I am totally lost on how to organize this move! Although not the first time we've moved to Italy, I know nothing about the public schools, neighborhoods, after school programs, or summer programs. If there is any family currently living in Turin that could offer up some advice, that would be great! my private email is jah94618@hotmail.com! thanks

Good idea Jenna: I'll be moving to Torino end May, and I'm still trying to get a grip on real estate agencies (lucky for me the school thing is not an issue). Affitto.it has good listings but when I tried to contact someone about interest in a flat, I got no reply. They are very secretive about giving out phone numbers, so having to contact exclusively via their form, which they then apparently ignore, is not exactly confidence-inspiring. Hmmm...I'll be making an advance scouting next week, so am just about to go to pagine gialle and see what I can dig up.

Will keep you all posted.

Filomena:thanks for keeping me updated! Just curious, you mention that school thing is not an issue for you- does that mean you have already decided on a private school for your kids? Sorry, you've probably already mentioned this elsewhere, just wondering. I will send my son to a public school, which is, yes, a bit of a quandary when you don't know where you'll be living! Okay, lets stay in touch. Jen

Hi Jen, my daughter is way past school: she's out in the workaday world by now, indicating a likely significant age gap here. But I'm at the point I get along with anybody, so while we may not have a lot in common, apart from a love of Italy (which is a lot) I'd love to hook up at some point! Look forward to it...

Update: I'm in Torino as we speak. I'm quite favourably impressed to say the least, so I thought I might pass on a few tips I've picked up.

The area la Crocetta is quite well known and a very nice residential area. It looks like expat/diplomatic zone, if you know what I mean. I myself found it slightly cold, in that there doesn't seem to be much activity. That said, I passed what sounded like a pretty lively scuola elementare on via Massena.

I am staying in the area known as Campidoglio, west of Porta Susa, and I'm trying to secure an apartment in this area. It is also residential but there seems to be much more in the way of small commerce: lots of little food stores and arcane stuff like ferramenti, a bustling open market every day, and very, very Italian. I understand that the zone to avoid is San Salvario, which is just east of Porta Nuova station, and crime-ridden apparently: not somewhere you'd want to cross late at night. Piazza Statuto is like Largo Argentina in Rome: if it's public transport to anywhere you need, you'll find it there, so logically anywhere in that vicinity will be a big help if you have to rely on mezzi publici.

Public transportation is state-of-the-art, although the metro could be a bit longer, and getting to and from the airport is not easy!

Housing is reasonable to say the least: we're looking at 95mq for ca 750 (empty), but you can do better I'm sure. Even furnished flats don't seem to be overpriced, but you do need to search. Try casa.it to get individual agencies; there are also lots of listings, some with photos.

Basically Torino is big but not frenetic like Milan: a misura d'uomo as they say. People are super polite and bend-over-backwards helpful (although that may largely depend on ethnicity, to put it as delicately as possible).

Filomena:
Wow, your message was super helpful and thanks so much for getting back to me during your Turin visit. So, first, like you I tend to be more favored towards areas with shops around- not the crazy bustle like Milano- but market and cafe goers. Certainly La Crocetta may be on the expensive side (am i wrong, here?) and I don't necessary want to be in the "ex pat" area. Please let me know as your apartment search in Campidoglio unfolds- I must say (if you speak Italian, but i noticed that many pages are available in multiple languages) the amount of information the local govt. and even each circonscrizione has online in Torino is impressive to say the least! Campidolgio is certainly one of the primary areas I will look into. I really want to avoid a private agency (and there 2 months rent fees- yikes! i am not rich), but please let know if you are able to negotiate a lower fee. I finally told my partner (he lives in Rome right now) that he must go to Turin in May before I arrive and do some on the ground research. Your visit has inspired me to do this, but of course I have much to understand and research so his search can be focused and informed. Thanks a million again, always open more! Cheers and have a great time.

Wow! I live in Campidoglio as well! Near Corso Svizzera and Corso Francia. (Right by the Corso Racconigi Metro stop, which is really convenient!) We like it here and rent is definitely reasonable. I think we have about 90 square meters (furnished) and pay about 600. However, we've been househunting lately...my husband is really eager to buy something, rather than continue to rent.

Anyway, we got our apartment through solo affitti. Yes, unfortunately we had to pay the huge agency fee.

quote:

Wow! I live in Campidoglio as well! Near Corso Svizzera and Corso Francia. (Right by the Corso Racconigi Metro stop, which is really convenient!) We like it here and rent is definitely reasonable. I think we have about 90 square meters (furnished) and pay about 600. However, we've been househunting lately...my husband is really eager to buy something, rather than continue to rent.

Amy, just wondering if you guys have bought (i.e.: is your apt. up for rent by any chance)? I am still "homeless" in Turin, with 6 weeks to go and even the agencies don't have much posted. Okay, just in case you know of anything else, of course I must have furnished and 2 bedrooms, we are a family, but I am using all possible channels! All the best, jenna

we did not go through an agency of sorts, as my husbands company took care of relocation but we have secured a very nice furnished 3 bedroom apartment on Corso fuime that we will move into in the next 2 weeks. close enough to walk back to city but in the nice hill/park, shops area as well. new to area for one week now, so would love to meet all of you soon. I too have no children here with me, as they are off on own but have lots of time to have fun.

So, an update with housing. In the end all the sublets I explored went south... I just felt that the LLs kept changing the story, adding new elements, and I lost trust. One woman said she was American, but after countless email exchanges I called her and she is not American. I don't care where she is from, seriously, the issue is, why would she lie about her nationality? Too weird for me! I will probably sublet an apartment of a friend of a friend for a few weeks while apartment hunting, which is exactly what I wanted to do in the first place! Wish me luck...

Jenna: ChiChi on this board has a sublet for part of the summer, which would be a possibility for you maybe while you are looking....she's a friend of mine, an expats member, totally trustworthy. She lives just of Piazza Statuto. Get in touch with me if you want and I will give you her e mail and number. my email sabauda at g mail dot it

Hi,

We (husband and 3 year old daughter) will be moving to Torino summer of 2009 and am very interested in the ACAT.
Can anyone give any advice on the school (academics, student/teacher ratio, overall impression, etc.)- my daughter would be enrolled in the pre-kindergarden class.
Are there quite a few students living in center turin from the school? I've noticed the school is scheduled to move to Chieri - has it been confirmed when the move will take place ( As that might decide on our living arrangements)
Any advice on best area to live. I would prefer a quiet "city center" area.
Thanks

Can't answer any of these questions at the moment but am hoping to be enlightened soon as we are planning a visit to the school in November.

Hi there,

I think I can answer some of your questions. My two daughters, grades 5 and 7 are in their second year at the International School.
The school is small-about 600 students k-12 and is predominately Italian about 60/40. This is our first international school experience but I've been told by more experienced parents that the Turin school is less international than most others and this has led to some problems academically because the classes need to accomodate non english/slow english speakers.

That being said, both my girls have really enjoyed their time there and are doing well. The math program is good (we are from Connecticut and the program seems on par with back home) but the english is a little behind, so you may want to supplement with extra reading at home.

They are in the process of building a new campus in Chieri but I'd be very surprised if it is ready before 2-3 years We live in Turin, near the city center and really like it. My girls take the school bus-a fairly long ride (about 40 minutes) but it's worked out well.

I guess that's everything-please post again if you have any questions-good luck!

Hi CT Betty we are considering the school for our daughter next September. She's high school and would be entering in 11th grade and starting her 2 year IB course. Regarding the new campus ( what beautiful buildings!) the relocation probably wouldn't affect us then would it if you think it will be 2 or 3 years away? I was wondering if I should research rentals in the Chieri area rather than Moncalieri.....? What time-scale has the school itself given? We have an appointment to visit the week after next so hope to have a few questions answered.