Toret
The toret, Piedmontese for «little bulls», are the public drinking fountains of Turin: a bottle-green cast-iron block about a metre tall, with a tap ending in a bull's head, the symbol of the city.[1][2]
History
The first plan for public fountains dates back to 1854, and according to the City's historical archive the first toret was installed on 17 July 1862, on the model of French cities.[1][3] Their number grew considerably from the 1930s onward; since the 1970s they have been made by a foundry in Pinerolo, and since 2004 they have been managed by SMAT.[1] They are found mainly near markets and gardens, and often have a basin where animals can drink.[1]
How many there are
In April 2024 there were 719 toret among the city's 795 public fountains, and only three were out of service; in 2023 SMAT carried out 911 inspections and 235 repairs following vandalism and breakdowns.[3] The water flows day and night without stagnating, and whatever is not used returns to the water table.[2]
The «smart» toret
In 2018 five pilot toret, including those in Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo, were turned into connected antennas linked to an app, as part of a project by the City, SMAT and the I Love Toret association; SMAT fitted each toret with a small plate bearing its number and a toll-free number.[4] Two examples have been donated to Sanremo.[1]
Sources
- MuseoTorino
- SMAT
- Torino Oggi — 3 April 2024
- SMAT — 10 May 2018