Turin, or Torino , is a city with a rich cultural history in the Piedmont ( Piemonte ) region of Italy, between the Po River and the foothills of the Alps. Famous for the Shroud of Turin, an important Christian artifact, and for the Fiat car plants, the city was the first capital of Italy. Turin continues to be a center of business activity within the country and the European Union.
Turin doesn’t have the tourism industry that Rome, Venice, and other parts of Italy have, but it’s a great city for exploring nearby mountains and valleys. And its baroque cafes and architecture, shopping promenades and museums give Turin much to offer the adventurous tourist.
Location and transportation
Turin is served by a small airport, Citta di Torino-Sandro Pertini, with flights to and from Europe. The closest airport for flights from the United States is in Milan, just over an hour away by train.
Intercity trains and buses provide transportation to and from Turin from other cities. The main train station is Porta Nuova in the center of Piazza Carlo Felice. Porta Susa station serves trains to and from Milan and is connected to the city center and the main station by bus.
Turin has an extensive network of trams and buses that run from morning to midnight. There are also electric minibuses in the city center. Bus and tram tickets can be purchased at a tabacchi shop.
What to see and do
- Piazza Castello and Palazzo Reale are in the center of Turin. The square is a pedestrian zone with benches and small fountains, surrounded by beautiful and grand buildings.
- Via Po is an interesting pedestrian street with long arcades and many historic palaces and cafes. Start at Piazza Castello .
- Mole Antonelliana , a 167 meter high tower built between 1798 and 1888, houses an excellent film museum. A panoramic elevator takes you to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city.
- Palazzo Carignano is the birthplace of Vittorio Emanuele II in 1820. The Unification of Italy was proclaimed here in 1861. It now houses the Museo del Risorgimento and you can also see the Royal Armory royal apartments.
- The Museo Egizio is a large Egyptian museum housed in a large Baroque palace. The palace also houses the Sabauda Gallery with a large collection of historical paintings.
- Piazza San Carlo , known as the ‘Turin hall’, is a beautiful Baroque square with the twin churches of San Carlo and Santa Cristina , as well as the former museum.
- Il Quadrilatero is an interesting maze of back streets with sprawling markets and splendid churches. This is another good place for a walk.
- Elegant and historic bars and cafes are everywhere in the center of Turin. Try a bicerine , a local layered drink made with coffee, chocolate, and cream. Turin’s cafes also serve other interesting trendy coffee drinks.
- Borgo Mediovale , or medieval Borgo, is a recreation of a medieval village with a castle, created in 1884 for the International Exhibition of the city of Turin. It is next to the river in the Parco del Valentino.
- Turin was one of the first cities in Italy to adopt a café society. In addition to hot drinks, ice cream, cakes and alcoholic beverages, many cafes serve snacks with the evening aperitif. Since you pay more to sit, whether inside or outside, make it worthwhile to spend some time at your table enjoying the scene.
- Turin Shroud Museum: The Turin Shroud, or Holy Shroud, is found in the Turin Cathedral, but is only on display during certain periods. The Museum of the Shroud is open every day.
Food
The Piedmont region has the best food in Italy. More than 160 types of cheese and famous wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco come from this area, as do truffles, which abound in the fall. You will find outstanding cakes, especially the chocolate ones, and it is worth noting that the concept of eating chocolate as we know it today (bars and pieces) originated in Turin. The chocolate and hazelnut sauce, gianduja , is a specialty.
Festivals
Turin celebrates its patron saint Joseph at the Festa di San Giovanni on June 24 with events throughout the day and a large fireworks display at night. There is a big chocolate festival in March and several music and theater festivals in summer and fall. During the Christmas season there is a two-week street market and on New Year’s Eve, Turin organizes an open-air concert in the main square.
