The 2025 edition of the General Assembly will be held from 3 to 5 November in Torino and will be hosted by the Politecnico di Torino. This edition holds particular significance as it coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Magalhães Network.
In commemoration of this important milestone, the programme will feature a dedicated event on 4 November, aimed at retracing the key stages in the history of the Network and presenting the results achieved in the field of academic and scientific cooperation. The occasion will also provide an opportunity to outline future developments, to reinforce the sense of belonging within the Magalhães community, and to promote the creation of new synergies among member universities.
Torino is the capital of the Piedmont region and an important industrial and cultural center in northern Italy.
The story of Torino began when the “Taurini”, a Celtic-Ligurian tribe, settled along the banks of the Po River. Later, in 58 BC, Julius Caesar positioned a military camp at the confluence of the rivers Po and Dora Riparia, in a strategic spot for the “Via delle Gallie”, naming it Julia Taurinorum. But the ultimate foundation of the city occurred around 28 BC, when Octavian Augustus made a second colony with the name of Augusta Taurinorum. The castrum (the current “Quadrilatero”) developed with an urban layout typical of Roman cities that can still be seen.
From 1563, it was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy, then of the Kingdom of Sardinia ruled by the Royal House of Savoy and finally the first capital of the unified Italy.
In the early 20th century, in addition to being one of the world’s industrial centers, Torino was also a pioneer of cinema; in fact, the Turin-based companies Ambrosio Film and Itala Film, along with Rome-based Cines, led the Italian film industry between 1903 and 1908. Through the beginning of the 20th century, Torino was known as the “Capital of Cinema”: 1400 films were produced in the city, and the 1911 Universal Exhibition in Torino could almost be considered the first international film festival ever.
Torino is known as well for its architecture: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau are some of the architectural styles you can see around the city.
In 1997, part of Torino’s historic center was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The city is home of the world-famous Egyptian Museum and of the National Museum of Cinema, housed in the Mole Antonelliana, the city’s symbol. Other important Museums not to be missed are the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, GAM-Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, MAUTO - The National Automobile Museum, and Camera – Italian Centre for Photography.
Finally, Torino is well known for the Holy Shroud, the football teams Juventus F.C. and Torino F.C., the automobile manufacturers FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo (now part of Stellantis), and as host of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Torino is known for its cultural heritage, from museums to Royal Palaces and castles.
The city offers a rich variety of cultural events like the Festival of Chocolate, the International Book Fair, the Salone del Gusto (Slow Food festival), and the Art Week (contemporary art festival, held in November).
In Torino you can taste delicious dishes from the best of Piedmont tradition, like Grissini (breadsticks), Agnolotti (local dumplings), Bagna Caoda (hot sauce made from garlic, anchovies and olive oil), Bicerin (hot drink made with coffee, cream and chocolate), Gianduiotto (hazelnut chocolate) and gelato (ice-cream).
You can experience the excellent Piedmont red and white wines made from the exquisite grapes grown in the hills of the region.
And don’t miss the beloved ritual of Aperitivo, a moment when people meet for a drink accompanied by appetizers before dinner (often, it evolves into a dinner in itself!).
The 2025 General Assembly will take place at two main institutional venues:
- the Engineering main campus on Corso Duca degli Abruzzi , a center of excellence in education and research
- the Architecture, Design and Planning campus in the Castello del Valentino, the historic seat of the Politecnico and a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the Department of Architecture and Design.
