Torino

Turin is known for its chocolate, its coffee houses, FIAT and its famous football team JUVE (Juventus Turin), but it has a lot more to offer!



Piazza Castello designed by Ascanio Vittozzi forms the centre of the historic city. Vittozzi placed great importance on creating a uniform appearance in the baroque style.

In the middle of the Piazza is Palazzo Madama, which took its name from the two 'Madama Reales', Maria Christine of France and Maria Giovanna Battista di Savoia-Nemours, who lived in the palace for some years and helped design it. The Palazzo is built around an old city gate, the Porta Praetoria, which can still be visited inside. Today, the Palazzo houses the Museo Civico d’Arte Antica – the city's collection of ancient art.



At the northern edge of the Piazza lies the Palazzo Reale (Tue – Sun 08.30 – 18.20), which was built by Amedeo di Castellamonte and was later home to the dukes and kings of Savoy. From the palace you can look out over the Piazzetta Reale, a small square separated by railings with statues of Castor and Pollux.One of Europe's largest armouries - the Armeria Reale - can be found in the east wing of the Palazzo.

The Biblioteca Reale is situated right next to the palace and holds a collection of 185,000 books, 2,000 drawings and 4,300 prints including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Dürer and Rembrandt. A special permit is needed to see these pieces.



The church of San Lorenzo has a tower-like dome and a relatively unadorned façade. By contrast, the exquisitely designed and very grandiose interior is regarded as the masterpiece of Guarino Guarinis.

On the eastern side of the square lies the Teatro Regio, which was destroyed by fire in 1936 leaving only the façade. It was here that the first performances of Puccini's operas 'La Bohème' and 'Manon Lescaut' were held.



Turin's only renaissance building is the Duomo San Giovanni Battista which houses the Cappella della Sacra Sindone.



The chapel was badly damaged by fire in 1997, and the Holy Shroud, which up to that point could be seen in the chapel, was placed in a more secure location. A duplicate of the shroud remains on display. The original shroud is only displayed on very special occasions.



Palazzo Carignano was the birthplace of Carlo Alberto and the later king of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II. It was subsequently adopted as the home of the Piedmontese and then the Italian parliament. Today, in addition to the well-preserved parliament room, visitors will find the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano (Tue-Sun 09.00 – 19.00) with its extensive displays on Italian unification well worth visiting.



One of the biggest Egyptian collections is located in the 'Museo Egizio' in the Palazzo della Accademia delle Scienze in Piazzo San Carlo (Tue-Sun 08.30 – 19.30, www.museoegizio.org). Ancient Egyptian jewellery, furniture, statues of the pharaohs and tombs are on display on the lower floor alongside an excavated section of the former Roman city walls of Turin. On the upper floor is the Galleria Sabauda (Tue, Fri-Sun 08.30 – 14.00, Wed 14.00 – 19.30, Thu 10.00 -19.30), which holds a collection of splendid works by Italian and European artists from the 14th to the 18th centuries.



The twin churches of San Carlo and S. Christina on the south side of Piazza San Carlo lend an appearance of harmony to the square. For this reason, but also because of its traditional coffee houses (e.g. San Carlo und Torino) and little bars, the square has become a favourite meeting place of the locals.

Via Garibaldi, Via Po and Via Roma, which begins in the square, together form Turin's main shopping district.



Turin also has much to offer fans of modern art. The Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, known by its letters GAM, is situated at Via Magneta 31 (Tue-Sun 09.00 – 19.00, www.gamtorino.it).



The real emblem of the city and the highest masonry-built structure in Europe at 167.5 m is the Mole Antonelliana. Many will recognise it from the reverse of the Italian 2-cent coin. Today it is home to the Museo Nazionale del Cinema (Tue-Fri/Sun 09.00 – 20.00, Sat 09.00 -23.00, www.museonazionaledelcinema.it). Visitors can learn all about the history of cinema, especially in Italy, through a series of selected film clips. There is also a collection of old film cameras, film props and cinema posters. A must for every film buff!

After your tour, don't forget to visit the viewing gallery on the Mole. From the gallery there is a stunning view over Turin.



Parco Valentino with its botanical garden is a great spot for walking. Climb up to the Monte dei Cappuccini and you will be rewarded by a breathtaking view of Turin and the surrounding area.



For those with an interest in the Middle Ages, the Borgo Medievale (Borgo daily 09.00 – 20.00, Rocca and Museum Tue-Sun 09.30 – 18.15) – a copy of a castle village typical of the Piedmont region in mediaeval times - is not to be missed.

The Murazzi – Turin's quayside area built in 1830 and once used for washing and tanning - now hosts much of the city's nightlife with countless discos and pubs. This is also the place to come for those wishing to take a daytime trip on the Po.



The famous 'Museo dell’Automobile Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffa' at Corso d’Unità d’Italia 40 (Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat 10.00 – 18.30, Thu 10.00 – 22.00, Sun 10.00 – 20.30) displays over 170 vehicles from all over the world.



If you are in Turin during the week (Mon-Fri morning), why not pay a visit to the biggest food market in Europe, the Mercato di Porta Palazzo in Piazza della Republica?

It's worth buying a Torino Piemont Card for 18 € (valid 48 h) from one of the city's tourist information points. The card gives you: - free entry to over 140 museums, palaces and exhibitions; - many discounts with the Choco-Pass (also available at information points), opera, theatre and concerts; - free use of public transport; free use of the Turin tourist bus, the panoramic lift to the Antonelliana Mole, boats on the river Po.