If you can imagine merging Paris and Vienna before relocating them to Italy then you can picture elegant and sophisticated Turin. Tree-lined boulevards contain Art Nouveau cafes whilst the ever-present Alps give everything a picture postcard prettiness. Yet Turin is not just all about style - there’s plenty of substance here too - chocolate took its modern form here, the Turin shroud was ‘discovered’ here, the Fiat car conceived and the iconic zebra stripes and footballing brilliance of Juventus can be seen in the city. In the last ten years Turin has been reinvigorated, thanks, in part, to the Winter Olympics of 2006, and now boasts a vibrant art, architecture, design and music scene.
Areas & Neighbourhoods of Turin
Porta Nuova - Modern and historic art galleries, Ancient Egyptian treasures, elegant Baroque squares and the glitzy designer shops and cafes of Via Roma can all be found near here.
Piazza Castello - Turin was key in the creation of the modern nation and you can learn more about this story in the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento that is housed in the palace where many Italian royals were born. The royal palace itself lies nearby in all its epic, stately splendour. The Duomo behind this holds what could be the greatest forgery ever - the Turin Shroud.
Parco del Valentino - Cinephiles will love the Museo del Cinema and those looking for the best nightlife in the city should head to the nearby Parco del Valentino which is on the riverfront. By day the park is different - all flower beds, tranquil spots and curving lanes (with the odd castle thrown in for good measure!)
Museo dell’Automobile - Packed with interactive exhibits and cars from your childhood is the museum that traces the development of cars from the city that gave us Fiat. Follow the river to Corso Unitá d’Italia to admire the polished chrome.
Things to See in Turini
The Turin Shroud is rarely displayed but there are plenty of other things to see in Turin. The gracious Baroque boulevards and Art Nouveau cafes that line the piazzas are elegance personified. There is plenty of art to admire in the galleries, museums and private collections of the city and you can learn about the history of the cinema in Turin’s rather wonderful homage to the silver screen.
Things to Do in Turin
You do not need to be a petrol head to enjoy the collection of classic cars and displays at Turin’s car museum but you should stop off on the way in Parco del Valentino to relax or visit the castle and medieval village here. There are plenty of royal palaces to explore as Turin provided the country with its Royal Family. You can also brush up on the twists and turns of the birth of Italy as a nation in the museums of the city. Lest things get a bit serious there are vibrant street markets to visit, designer boutiques to blow the credit card in and an exciting nightlife and dining scene to take in.
