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The city of Ivrea is one of the three
points of the so–called 'golden triangle' formed by the Aosta
Valley, Turin and Milan. Turin is Italy's leading centre for technological
sciences and industry, while Milan, retaining its global reputation
as a fashion and design capital, is nowadays also at the heart of
the country's Internet economy.
Majestically situated on the edge
of the Aosta Alps, Ivrea has a pleasant climate and is surrounded
by the Canavese countryside, with its farmland plains, vineyards,
and thickly wooded hills. In summer, the magnificent reserves of
Piedmont and the Aosta Valley offer possibilities to escape into
the wilderness, while the Mediterranean beckons to the south. In
winter, the European ski resorts of Courchevel, Cervinia and Zermatt
are close at hand.
Once a Roman garrison camp known as Eporedia,
Ivrea has a long and rich history, reflected in its architectural
and cultural heritage, and regional foods and wines. This century,
the city has been greatly influenced by its association with Olivetti,
which began producing typewriters here in 1908. Thanks to the social
vision of the Olivetti family, Ivrea benefited from urban growth
that promoted the harmonious combination of industrial activity
with society and culture. Olivetti's architects designed functional
but sympathetic structures that were fully integrated into the peaceful
rural surroundings of the Canavese countryside. In the 1950s, with
Adriano Olivetti and his 'Community' movement, Ivrea became a centre
for advanced social studies into this sort of industrial and social
integration. The new Interaction Institute is an Information Age
extension of this progressive tradition.
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