If you are looking for a new impulse for a tasteful city break, Turin is worth a stay. Take a look at this neglected city that has a lot to offer, with an authentic dose of Italy walking the streets, art in the many world-leading museums, walks along the Rive Po and, of course, excellent Piemontese cuisine.
TAKE A WALK
Explore Turin’s atmospheric streets, extraordinary royal palazzi, avant-garde galleries, bookshops, chiselled gardens and towers of Baroque architecture. When you get tired of walking, take a break at one of the many slow food and fine wine restaurants, not forgetting the many classic cafes around the piazzas. And for a spectacular view, head to the Basilica di Superga on a hill overlooking Turin.
BALON FLEA MARKET
If you love vintage, visit the flea market at Porta Palazzo, Via Vittorio Andreis 14, 10152 Torino, every second Sunday since 1985. Get your hands on all sorts of fine Italian stolen goods. Think retro furniture, ceramics, lace, linen, art, books and lots of contemporary crafts.
PALAZZO MADAMA
Napoleon’s official residence in 1802. The baroque façade you see today is the work of the Italian architect, engraver and goldsmith Filippo Juvarra.
An espresso in the café also offers excellent views of Piazza Reale, and if you go up to the third floor, you’ll see panoramic views of the city, the mountains and beyond from the sturdy tower of the ancient castle.
WALK IN THE PARCO DEL VALENTINO
It’s all about the long walks in this splendid park on the banks of the Po river. Massive villas, grand residences and the Castello del Valentino (another Savoy royal palace) are just some of the highlights to explore, along with the botanical gardens, the Torino Esposizioni and Underground Pavilion complex and the Borgo Medievale, an open-air museum recreating the late medieval architecture of the Piedmont region. Parco del Valentino, Corso Massimo d’Azeglio, 10126 Torino TO, Italy
FARMACIA DEL CAMBIO
An old pharmacy where all sorts of potions and remedies were hidden in old ceramics. Many of the original features – chandeliers, furniture and more – have survived to the present day in a bistro, ice-cream parlour, pastry shop and bar. wow on loop, perfect for lunch.
MAGAZZINO 52
Think tagliolini with rabbit liver and Piedmont pig’s bacon with soy sauce. More than 1,000 bottles of wine line the walls, from the local Piedmontese hills to Tuscany, Burgundy and the Rhone.
RESTORANTE CIRCOLO DEI LETTORI
A classic in Turin with a menu that reads like a long book. So we recommend the tasting menu of Piedmont to give you a perfect idea of where you are, in the epicentre of Slow Food. Ristorante Circolo dei Lettori, Via Giambattista Bogino, 9, 10123 Torino TO, Italy
CONFETTERIA STRATTA
This chocolate shop opened in 1836 and is famous for its artisanal gianduiotto – Piedmont’s most famous chocolate slab filled with bite-sized hazelnuts.
SHOPPING LIKE EVERYWHERE
Located around Via Roma and Piazza San Carlo, you will find all the big stores such as Hermes, Vuitton and Ferragamo, but the real gem is Galleria San Federico, a small shopping centre in Art Nouveau architecture.