Things to See and Do in Turin: 17 Must-Visit Places

Turin is a city of many faces. Former Savoy capital, cradle of the Risorgimento, industrial capital, city of art and culture, and hub of innovation.

With its immense heritage inherited from centuries of history, and the dynamism of a city open to the world, the Piedmontese capital offers a perfect combination of:

architectural and monumental gems

museums — more than 40

art galleries

entertainment and plenty of excellent food

internationally renowned events, such as the Book Fair, the Salone del Gusto and the Turin Film Festival.

A constant calendar of things to do and see at any time of year.

The Mole Antonelliana, the Egyptian Museum, the royal residences, the Holy Shroud and gianduiotti chocolates are just some of the treasures of this city on the banks of the River Po.

Turin is therefore an unmissable travel destination for those who want to discover the splendour of its magnificent past by exploring its masterpieces, take part in its lively cultural life made up of art exhibitions and events, and enjoy wandering through its markets or stopping at one of its many historic cafés.

Please remember that the most affordable way to visit Turin is with the Torino + Piemonte Card, which gives you free access to the main castles, residences and museums in Turin and Piedmont.

On this page we recommend what to do and see in Turin during a long weekend or weekend break. We visited Turin in February and May 2022 and this guide was updated in January 2023.

If you are looking for a hotel in Turin, we recommend choosing from those offered by Booking.com. There are around 120 hotels with prices, photos and reviews from previous guests. Go to Booking.com.

1

The symbol of the city of Turin and the first thing to see in Turin, the Mole Antonelliana was begun in 1863 based on a design by Alessandro Antonelli, originally intended to serve as a Jewish temple.

In 1878 it was handed over to the Municipality, which wanted to turn it into a monument dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy.

This unique building, 167 metres high, with a square base topped by its famous cusped dome, was inaugurated in 1889 with the placement of the statue of the winged genius on the spire.

In 1905, a five-pointed star replaced the statue of the winged genius, which had been struck down by lightning the previous year.

A glass-walled lift inside the Mole allows visitors to reach the “Tempietto”, 85 metres up, from where they can admire a truly surprising view of Turin.

The Antonellian building is currently home to the National Cinema Museum, the only one of its kind in Italy.

The museum collections housed here offer visitors a journey through the history of cinema along a route spread over five levels:

Archaeology of Cinema

The Cinema Machine

The Poster Collection

Video installations

The great Temple Hall, surrounded by 13 chapels that explore some of the major themes of the seventh art: Horror and Fantasy, Animated Cinema, Science Fiction, Love and Death, Westerns, and more.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Mole Antonelliana

Opening hours: every day 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. The walk up to the dome is possible on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ticket price: €11. How to get there: Via Montebello 20. Bus 61, 55, 56, tram 13 and 15 — Rossini stop, Via Po; Bus 68 — Verdi stop, Via Rossini; tram 16 — Palazzo Nuovo stop, Corso San Maurizio.

Official website of the Cinema Museum

2

This square is the true heart of Turin: it is here, in fact, that city life developed, from Roman times to the Risorgimento.

Piazza Castello, as it appears today, was designed by the architect Ascanio Vitozzi in 1584 at the request of Duke Charles Emmanuel I.

The square, surrounded on three sides by elegant porticoes built in different periods, frames several important city buildings that are all worth seeing:

the austere Royal Palace, residence of the King of Sardinia until 1659 and later of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, until 1865; the Teatro Regio;

the Regional Government Building;

the Government Palace, now the seat of the Prefecture; the Secretariat buildings; the Royal Armoury and the Royal Library, which houses the famous red-chalk Self-Portrait by Leonardo da Vinci.

At the heart of the square stands the imposing Palazzo Madama, the ancient castle from which the square takes its name, surrounded by three monuments:

the sculpture dedicated to the Standard-Bearer of the Sardinian Army;

the equestrian monument celebrating the Knights of Italy;

the statue depicting Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy.

Piazza Castello is also the point where Turin’s four major thoroughfares converge: Via Roma, Via Pietro Micca, Via Po and Via Garibaldi, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe.

Official website of the Royal Palace

3

Turin is full of squares, all beautiful and elegant. But the one that remains in the hearts of many tourists is Piazza San Carlo, not by chance considered the “drawing room of Turin”. It is a majestic space with the statue of Emmanuel Philibert at its centre, which the people of Turin call Caval ëd Bronz — bronze horse, in Piedmontese.

168 metres long and 76 metres wide, the square is striking for the presence of the two twin Baroque churches: Santa Cristina, built in 1639, and San Carlo, built in 1619. In reality, they are not twins in the sense that they were not built together; over the centuries they “copied” each other until they became identical!

On the sides, two rows of porticoes house shops, restaurants and some of Turin’s historic cafés, such as Caffè San Carlo and Caffè Torino. Politicians, artists and intellectuals, from Piedmont and beyond, have all passed through these two cafés.

The entire history of Piazza San Carlo is linked to the life of the Savoy family, who commissioned it between the 17th and 18th centuries to “celebrate” Turin’s role as capital.

All the city’s important events pass through here: from concerts to Juventus victories, although Piazza San Carlo is remembered above all for the uprising of 21 September 1864 — 184 dead — after the title of capital was transferred to Florence.

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Today Palazzo Madama is home to the Civic Museum of Ancient Art, but this magnificent building, erected on the ruins of an ancient Roman gate, has been a fortress, a castle — as shown by the rear façade with its medieval towers — and the residence of two “Royal Madams”, Marie Christine of France and Marie Jeanne of Savoy-Nemours, under whose regency the building was enlarged and embellished.

In particular, in 1718 Filippo Juvarra, architect of the House of Savoy, designed and built the great western façade and the imposing grand staircase, an undisputed masterpiece of Baroque architecture.

Not to be missed are the thousands of pieces preserved within the splendid setting of the palace, bearing witness to ten centuries of Italian and European artistic production, from the Early Middle Ages to the Baroque.

The visit route is spread across four floors: on the moat level is the Medieval Lapidary, with stone sculptures and goldsmith works from the 12th and 13th centuries;

the ground floor houses Gothic sculptures, paintings and precious objects from the 13th to 16th centuries;

the first floor is dedicated to the arts of the 17th and 18th centuries, with the picture gallery, furnishings and lavish decorations of the rooms; the second floor, dedicated to decorative arts from all periods, contains ceramics, ivories, textiles and glassware.

Among the museum’s masterpieces not to be missed are the “Portrait of a Man” by Antonello da Messina, kept in the Torre dei Tesori, and the Turin-Milan Hours, the only manuscript in the world illuminated by the Flemish artist Jan van Eyck.

Opening hours and ticket price for Palazzo Madama and the Museum of Ancient Art

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed: Tuesday
Ticket price: €10
How to get there: in Piazza Castello. On foot in the historic centre or by:

Bus: lines 11, 12, 51, 55, 56, 61, 68 Tram: lines 4, 13, 15, 18.

Official website of Palazzo Madama

5

Turin Cathedral is dedicated to St John the Baptist, the city’s patron saint. Built between 1491 and 1498 at the request of Cardinal della Rovere, the Renaissance-style cathedral has a white marble façade with three portals decorated with reliefs and a red-brick bell tower crowned by Juvarra. The basilica-plan interior has a Latin cross layout with three naves and Gothic elements.

In the 17th century the Cathedral was renovated in order to add the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture by Guarino Guarini. The chapel, intended to house the burial cloth in which Jesus’ body is said to have been wrapped in the tomb, was seriously damaged by a fire in 1997.

The relic, which had already been kept for some years behind the high altar, was not directly affected by the flames but was removed from the area of the fire.

Today the Shroud is kept flat inside an airtight case, without air and in the presence of an inert gas, placed beneath the royal tribune. During ostensions — public displays — the Shroud is instead exhibited in another case.

Opening hours and ticket price for Turin Cathedral

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday: from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday: from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Mass times:
Holidays: 9 a.m., 6 p.m.
Weekdays: 6 p.m.

Ticket price: free How to get there: behind Piazza Castello in Via XX Settembre. Bus: lines 11, 12, 51, 55, 56, 61, 68 Tram: lines 4, 13, 15, 18.

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Porta Palatina is located in Piazza Cesare Augusto. It is impossible not to notice this majestic monument, also because it is the starting point for a walk through the historic centre. Stop briefly to admire it carefully and take a few photos before continuing towards the streets of the centre through the pedestrian entrance.

It is a historic gate dating back to Roman times, when Turin was called Augusta Taurinorum. It was built in the 1st century BC to make the entrance to the city more monumental… and today it is still there. It has come down to us in an excellent state of preservation, although its current appearance is the result of both recent and older restoration work.

From an architectural point of view, the gate is made of red brick, with two side towers, a central section with two rows of windows, while the lower part contains the actual entrance through two arched gateways.

Completing the setting is the pair of statues of Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus, reproductions of monuments from ancient Rome. An interesting detail concerns the name “Palatina”: the gate was so called because it stood near the Palatium, the seat of the senate and administrative activities.

Porta Palatina is part of the Palatine Towers Archaeological Park, which includes the remains of the Roman theatre and ancient walls. Around it stretches the large green area of the Aiuola Secondo Pia garden, designed for the 2006 Winter Olympics. It is a good place to rest on the benches while visiting the city.

Leaving the Palatine Towers Archaeological Park, on one side you find yourself in Piazza San Giovanni, from where you can access the Royal Palace by passing through the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista. Piazza Castello and the Royal Museums are just a short walk away, while in front of the area are the historic Turin market of Porta Palazzo and the entrance to Corso Regina Margherita.

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Not far from the city centre stretches the beautiful Valentino riverside park, redesigned in the 19th century by the French landscape architect Barrillet-Dechamps. The origin of the name of this green area is uncertain — although some believe it dates back to the patron saint of lovers, whose remains are kept in a small church nearby — but it is very well known among Turin residents who love jogging and cycling.

In the heart of the city park stands the splendid Valentino Castle, included by UNESCO in the World Heritage list together with the other Savoy residences in Piedmont.

Already an extra-urban residence in the 16th century, it was with Marie Christine of France, the royal madam who made it her favourite residence, that this French-style palace experienced its period of greatest splendour. Used for various purposes in later centuries, today the Castle is home to the Faculty of Architecture of the Polytechnic University.

Other buildings are also scattered throughout the park. One of the most unusual is certainly the Medieval Village, a reproduction of a 15th-century village complete with fortified houses, workshops, narrow streets, a drawbridge and a Rocca — the village castle.

Built for the 1884 Italian General Exhibition in Turin as an Ancient Art pavilion to promote the medieval historical and artistic heritage of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, the complex was preserved after the event and soon became a pleasant and attractive leisure destination.

Opening hours and ticket price for Valentino Park

Opening hours:

Castle: Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Booking required here Village: Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. — November to March; from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. — April to October. Rocca: Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.–5:15 p.m. — last admission; closed on Monday.

Ticket price: free. The Rocca requires a ticket but remained closed throughout 2022. How to get there: Bus: 9 – 16 – 42 – 45 – 45 barred – 52 – 67

Official website of Valentino Park Official website of the Medieval Village

8

This museum, dedicated exclusively to the art and culture of ancient Egypt, has been located in Turin for almost two centuries. The museum was founded in 1826, the year in which Charles Felix, King of Sardinia, purchased a large collection of works from Bernardino Drovetti, the French consul in Egypt.

Subsequent acquisitions and excavations expanded the museum collection, which today boasts more than 30,000 pieces, including statues of pharaohs, sarcophagi, funerary stelae, jewellery and everyday objects — “only” 6,500 of which are on display — making the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Turin one of the richest Egyptian museums in the world. Among the masterpieces that can be admired here are the statue of Ramesses II, the intact tombs of Kha and Merit, the Mensa Isiaca, and the rock-cut temple of Thutmose III, transported from Ellesyia, 200 km south of Aswan, and reassembled here to save it from the waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the Aswan Dam.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Egyptian Museum

Opening hours:

Monday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday: 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Ticket price: €15 How to get there: Via Accademia delle Scienze, 10 minutes from Piazza Castello. Bus/Tram:

Lines 4 and 15; BERTOLA-247 stop
Lines 58, 58B, 11, 55, 57; BERTOLA-1642 stop
Lines 72 and 72B; BERTOLA-2179 stop
Lines 13, 56, 51; BERTOLA-469 stop
Line 27; BERTOLA-1632 terminus
Lines 13, 15, 55, 56; CASTELLO-471 stop
Line 7; CASTELLO-409 terminus — service runs on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

Official website of the Egyptian Museum

9

If you cross the bridge of the same name from Piazza Vittorio Veneto, you will find yourself facing the outline of the Church of the Gran Madre di Dio. If you have seen the Pantheon in Rome, you will recognise that this church is almost a copy of it.

The first stone was laid by Victor Emmanuel on 23 July 1818 and the church was completed around 13 years later. In reality, the church was commissioned by the Decurions, Turin’s administrators, to celebrate the return in 1814 of Victor Emmanuel I after the withdrawal of the French troops.

The Latin inscription on the tympanum reads “ORDO POPULUSQUE TAURINUS OB ADVENTUM REGIS”. Latin scholars have often argued over this inscription, because it celebrates “the coming, the advent” of the King and not his return. The church is raised above the square, and welcoming visitors are the statues of Faith and Justice.

According to esoteric tradition, the statue on the left is the Madonna holding the Holy Grail, which is said to be buried beneath the church or somewhere in Turin. It should be remembered that Turin is considered, together with Prague and Lyon, one of Europe’s magical cities. After passing the six columns, visitors enter a single circular nave richly decorated with sculptures.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Gran Madre

Opening hours:

Every day from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. — continuous opening hours

Ticket price: free.
How to get there: Piazza Gran Madre di Dio. On foot from Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
City bus: 56 Tram: 13

10

The Sanctuary of the Consolata is located in the square of the same name, Piazza della Consolata. It is not always included in the classic Turin tourist route, but it is worth visiting for its history, architecture and wealth of artworks.

The Sanctuary stands where the Church of Sant’Andrea originally stood, dating back to the 10th century, of which the Romanesque bell tower has survived to this day and has now been restored. From the 17th century onwards, the church was rebuilt and enlarged several times thanks to the work of architects such as Guarino Guarini and Filippo Juvarra.

On either side of the entrance portal are two statues: one of San Massimo, the first bishop of Turin, and one of Blessed Sebastiano Valfrè.

You first enter an elliptical space before reaching the heart of the sanctuary itself, with its hexagonal plan, known as the “Guarinian Hexagon” because it was designed by the architect Guarini. The interiors are in the Piedmontese Baroque style.

On the vault, admire a cycle of frescoes with scenes from the life of the Madonna. Also interesting are the paintings depicting the story of a young blind man who, according to tradition, regained his sight thanks to Our Lady of the Consolata. The high altar is the work of Juvarra.

Along the sides are several chapels: the chapel of San Valerico, protector of the people of Turin against the plague in the 16th century; the chapel of San Giuseppe; and the 17th-century Chapel of Sant’Anna by Guarini, with a marble altar, a painting of the Nativity and the large altarpiece depicting the saint. Near the entrance is the tomb of Giuseppe Cafasso, a Turin priest who was spiritually very close to the poor and the vulnerable.

Also interesting are the Crypt — or Chapel of Graces — the Major Sacristy and the Gallery of Ex-Votos. Finally, there is the cloister, square in shape with the classic portico and central fountain.

In Piazza della Consolata, a stop at “Al Caffè al Bicerin” is a must: this historic café is the place to order the famous Turin bicerin or a hot chocolate. Wandering through the narrow streets, you reach Porta Palazzo, famous for its large and colourful market.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Consolata in Turin

Opening hours:

Every day from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. — continuous opening hours

Ticket price: free.
How to get there: 10 minutes on foot from Piazza Castello.

11

Turin is known for its porticoes, its museums and undoubtedly also for its historic galleries. Inspired by the typical Parisian passages, despite the passing of time and restoration work, they still preserve a retro charm.

It is impossible not to come across them while walking around the city. Historically, they were created as commercial spaces for the leisure of the 19th-century bourgeoisie: simply stepping inside, even just in passing, is enough to breathe in the atmosphere of Turin. They are lovely to experience when people are strolling through them and convenient places to spend a few hours on rainy days. But visiting them early in the morning, when the first rays of light filter through the glass roofs, is also an experience worth having. There are three covered galleries in Turin; let’s see where they are.

Galleria Umberto I connects Piazza della Repubblica, where the Porta Palazzo Market is held, with Via Milano, Via della Basilica and Via Egidi. Inaugurated in 1890, it is the oldest covered gallery in Turin. The Mauriziano Hospital originally stood here before being moved elsewhere and replaced by the commercial area. The plan is cross-shaped, and inside there are art galleries and several historic businesses, including the Mauriziano Pharmacy.

Between Piazza Castello and Piazza Carlo Alberto stands the Galleria Subalpina. It is spacious and bright, thanks to the architectural emphasis placed on glass combined with wrought iron. It houses an antique shop, a bookshop and the Cinema Romano, the oldest cinema in Turin. A stop at Caffè Baratti & Milano is a must, historic just like its location: inside, many sweet treats are on display to enjoy with a bicerin, the classic Turin café drink, or with a flavoured hot chocolate.

Then there is the very central Galleria San Federico, near the Egyptian Museum, accessed from Piazza San Carlo. It is an excellent place to sit down in one of the venues to eat something, order a coffee or enjoy a glass of wine. It houses shops, offices and the Cinema Lux. The building is more recent than the other two galleries and has a T-shaped layout with barrel vaults and domes.

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Like all sovereigns, the Savoys also loved living in precious residences, in enchanting places, both to enjoy life and to display their power. Villa della Regina, like the Valentino Castle — see point 6 — is no exception: it was built in the early 1600s at the request of Maurice of Savoy, first a cardinal and then, from 1641, Prince of Oneglia.

The prince’s aim was not only to have a villa to live in, but also a vineyard, still active today, to produce good wine for his table.

After his death, the villa passed to his wife Ludovica of Savoy, and later became the summer residence of Anne Marie d’Orléans and Polyxena of Hesse, queens of Sardinia: hence the name Villa della Regina.

After the staircase with the fountain dedicated to the god Neptune — the so-called Gran Rondeau — visitors enter the villa with its spectacular frescoed hall and four Chinese Cabinets in refined lacquered and gilded wood.

The Italian-style garden is spectacular, carved into the hillside and divided over three levels separated by rows of box hedges. Immediately behind the villa there is a semicircular exedra with 20 niches and as many statues.

From here, a staircase leads to another basin and then to the so-called “Grotto of the Wild King”. From there you reach the upper Belvedere, whose fountain gives rise to the Naiad Cascade that feeds the fountains below. Villa della Regina is part of the royal residences circuit and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ticket price: full €7.00; reduced — ages 18–25 — €2.00 Free: the first Sunday of the month from October to March;

How to get there: Strada S. Margherita, 79. On foot, one kilometre up a steep climb from the Church of the Gran Madre di Dio. Free parking outside. Bus: 53-55-56 City Sightseeing: Turin Line A — Turin Centre. See on Google Maps.

13

Built at the request of Charles Emmanuel II as a hunting and leisure residence, the Reggia di Venaria is one of the magnificent ducal residences in Piedmont, created to form a “Crown of Delights” around the capital as a testament to the power of the Savoys. Built between 1659 and 1679 based on a design by Castellamonte, the imposing complex of the Reggia di Venaria developed along a 2-km axis connecting the village, the palace with its beautiful Hall of Diana, and the Gardens.

Following the destruction of some parts by the French in 1693, a renovation and expansion project was launched by Garove. After his death, Juvarra took over and was responsible for the richly decorated Galleria Grande — also known as the Gallery of Diana — the solemn chapel dedicated to Saint Hubert, patron saint of hunters, and the building known as the “Great Stable” or “Citroniera”, magnificent examples of Baroque architecture.

Work on the Reggia was completed by Alfieri in the second half of the 18th century. In the 19th century, the Reggia began a long phase of decline — it was turned into a military barracks — and a century later it was completely in ruins. Fortunately, a major European restoration project restored all the splendour of what was once a place of delights.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since opening to the public in 2007, Venaria Reale has ranked among the top five most visited cultural sites in Italy.

Opening hours and ticket price for Venaria Reale

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Closed: every Monday — except for any public holidays, excluding Christmas, when Sunday opening hours apply — 24 and 25 December.

The Reggia is open — with the same hours as Sunday — on public holidays: New Year’s Day — from 11 a.m. — Epiphany, Easter and Easter Monday, Liberation Day, Labour Day, Republic Day, Ferragosto, All Saints’ Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Stephen’s Day.

Ticket price: €20
How to get there: Piazza della Repubblica 4, Venaria Reale (TO), 10 km from the centre of Turin. Car: Turin northern ring road, Venaria or Savonera/Venaria exit.
City buses and dedicated shuttles: dedicated GTT Venaria Express line; GTT buses: lines 72, 11 Train: Turin Dora-Ceres line — Venaria stop, Viale Roma.

Official website of Venaria Reale

14

Considered one of Europe’s leading capitals of contemporary art, Turin was the first Italian city to promote a public collection of modern art. Founded in 1863, the Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art — GAM — boasts a collection of over 45,000 works including paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, drawings and engravings from the 18th century to the present day, as well as one of Europe’s most important collections of artist films and videos.

The rich museum collection mainly documents Italian art, especially Piedmontese art, but there are also spaces dedicated to international historical avant-gardes and foreign art.

The collection includes works by great masters such as Fontanesi, Balla, Boccioni, De Chirico, Ernst and Klee. Since 2009, the works have been displayed according to four thematic routes that change over time, allowing visitors to rediscover the collections continuously.

Inside the GAM there are also a video library, the Wunderkammer — cabinet of curiosities — a small and comfortable space where visitors can admire the works displayed from time to time, and the Underground Project, an exhibition space in the basement dedicated to the study of contemporary art in relation to the culture of the past century.

Opening hours and ticket price for the GAM Museum

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Sunday: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed: every Monday.

Ticket price: full €10; reduced €8.
How to get there: Via Magenta, 20 minutes on foot from Piazza Castello. Metro 1: Vinzaglio and Re Umberto stops Bus: 5/, 14, 14/, 33, 33/, 52, 64, 68; Tram: 9, 15.

Official website of GAM Turin

15

In 1706, the Franco-Spanish army of Louis XIV besieged Turin: Duke Victor Amadeus II, who led the Piedmontese army, climbed up to Superga to look down on the battlefield from above.

A small church with a wooden Madonna had already stood here for many centuries, and the Duke made a vow to her: if he won, he would build a splendid basilica in honour of the Virgin on that site. After the victory, the Duke fulfilled his vow and entrusted the project to the court architect, Filippo Juvarra.

To build the complex, the existing church was demolished and the hill was lowered by forty metres. Completed in 1731 in full Baroque style, the Basilica of Superga bears all its hallmarks: 75 metres high and 51 metres long, it has six chapels and four altars decorated with statues and monuments in Carrara marble.

The most important religious place is the Chapel of the Vow, with the wooden statue of Our Lady of Grace to whom Victor Amadeus II turned to win the war. A climb up to the Dome after tackling 131 steps is unmissable, rewarded by a spectacular view. The complex also includes the Royal Tombs of the Savoys and a royal apartment used for the spiritual retreat of the Savoy sovereigns.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Basilica of Superga

Opening hours:

Monday – Friday:
10 a.m.–1 p.m.
2:30 p.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays closing time 6 p.m.

Ticket price: basilica free.
Tombs and apartment: €5
Dome climb: €3.
How to get there:

From Piazza Castello: Line 15 towards Sassi From Piazza Vittorio: Lines 61 or 68 towards Sassi
From Sassi Station, take the tramway that leads to the square in front of the Basilica.

Official website of the Basilica of Superga

16

The MAUTO, Turin Automobile Museum, in the Lingotto district, fascinates even those who are not car enthusiasts thanks to the beauty of the cars on display and the excellently organised visit route.

Loved by adults, the museum is also hugely popular with children, who enjoy walking through the historical settings and among the cars of their dreams.

The exhibition tells the history of the automobile, from its origins to the present day. It is accompanied by scenography created with great care to contextualise the various eras.

There are more than 200 cars on display and over 80 brands, not only Italian but also international. Carriages, steam tricycles, racing cars, models linked to fashion and famous manufacturers: there is something for everyone. A journey through time, with something to marvel at in every section.

To access information about the cars, visitors can rent an audio guide or download the MAUTO app. Alternatively, it is possible to download the audio-video guide for €5, which is even more immersive and also includes a Kids version for €4.

As for the visit, the museum can be explored independently, and in this case booking is NOT required, except for groups of more than 10 people. For guided tours, however, it is advisable to book at least one week in advance.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Automobile Museum in Turin

Opening hours:
Monday: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday to Sunday: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ticket price: full €15, reduced €12 — over 65s and ages 18–25 Free: children aged 0 to 5
Admission is included in the Torino + Piemonte Card tourist pass.
How to get there: Metro: Line 1, LINGOTTO stop from Torino Porta Nuova and Torino Porta Susa stations. From there, 10 minutes on foot.

Bus: Lines 18, 74, 42 or Hop-on Hop-off bus Line B, Stop 4

17

The Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi is located in the province of Turin, in the hamlet of Stupinigi in the municipality of Nichelino, from which it takes its name.

The hunting lodge as we know it today was built in the early 18th century by the architect Juvarra as a residence for the Savoys’ celebrations and hunting parties. Over the centuries it has been enlarged, changed owners and today belongs to the Fondazione Ordine Mauriziano.

Seen from the outside, the building is striking for its grandeur and beauty. The interiors are also interesting, with frescoed halls and furnishings of great historical and artistic value. The complex is surrounded by a large park, which is closed to the public.

The Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi is one of the stops on the “Art and Culture Routes”, specifically the Grey Route, a tourist circuit that includes the noble residences declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites around Turin. These include Venaria Reale, Racconigi Castle and Rivoli Castle.

The visit route in Stupinigi begins in the Juvarra Stables, with the famous deer statue by Francesco Ladatte. It continues through the Library and the Central Hall, then moves on to the Royal Apartments and the Chapel of Sant’Uberto, patron saint of hunters, splendidly restored. Last but not least in terms of beauty are the Hall of Mirrors, the Chinese Cabinets and the Games Room.

Booking is NOT required to visit the attraction, except for groups and guided tours.

Opening hours and ticket price for the Palazzina di Stupinigi

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Ticket price: Entrance tickets can be purchased online or on site: Full €12; reduced €8 — over 65s and adult students; €5 — children aged 6 to under 18 accompanied by an adult; free — children under 6. Admission is included in the Torino + Piemonte Card tourist pass.
How to get there: From the centre of Turin in about half an hour by car. Bus: Line 4, then change to line 41 to the Stupinigi stop.

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In Turin, food lovers can rest easy. Turin cuisine is indeed rich in dishes and flavours. Excellent products, extraordinary specialities and delicious preparations make Turin the heart of Piedmontese gastronomy. It starts with appetisers — cured meats, vitello tonnato, vegetables accompanied by the famous breadsticks — and continues with first courses: agnolotti — meat-filled pasta — served with the cooking juices of braised meat or butter and sage, and tajarin, long, thin fresh pasta served with white truffle or offal ragù.

Then come the main courses: meats — boiled meats, braised beef in Barolo wine served with various sauces — cheeses — robiole, tome — and the famous bagna caôda, a sauce made with oil, garlic and anchovies in which raw or cooked vegetables are dipped.

Next come magnificent chocolate-based desserts such as bonèt made with cocoa and amaretti, hazelnut cakes and Gianduja chocolate desserts. All accompanied by great red wines — Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, to name just a few — magnificent whites — Arneis, Moscato — and sweet and dry sparkling wines.

Finally, liqueurs and digestifs: vermouth — wine mixed with herbs and spices — and grappas made from many grape varieties, especially Barolo grapes. The best way to discover Turin cuisine in characteristic places is to find a “Piola”, a typical local family-run trattoria, usually with only a few tables, friendly service and prices accessible to everyone.

HTurin will certainly not leave you without a place to sleep, thanks to its wide variety of hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts and hostels. Refined and elegant hotels, prestigious historic residences and intimate, family-style apartments await you to make your holiday in Turin unique and unforgettable.

The recent arrival of new international hotel chains such as Holiday Inn and Best Western has further enriched the variety of accommodation available in the Olympic city. The offer is very wide and includes luxury 5-star hotels for the most demanding tourists, down to three- or two-star hotels, equally comfortable and mostly located in the historic centre of the city.

If you are looking for a hotel in Turin, we recommend choosing from those offered by Booking.com. There are around 120 hotels with prices, photos and reviews from previous guests. Go to Booking.com

The Italian art cities closest to Turin are Genoa and Milan.