Cars, chocolate and a soccer team may be Turin鈥檚 鈥渃laim to fame鈥, but there鈥檚 more to this elegant city in north-western Italy than Fiat, Gianduiotto and Juventus. Its long and important history is reflected in the city鈥檚 look, from the typical Roman street grid, still visible in the historic center, to the wide boulevards lined with porticoes and Baroque palaces, an Italo-French imprint given by the long domination of the House of Savoy.
There鈥檚 a lot here to keep you entertained, so plan your visit to Turin by following our suggestions on what not to miss.
To get a feel for the city鈥檚 grandeur, start from its heart, Piazza Castello, the site of several important buildings, among them: Palazzo Reale, the royal palace built for Duke of Savoy Charles Emmanuel II in the mid-1600s, which contains many sumptuous apartments, an impressive library and the royal gardens; Palazzo Madama, a 14th century castle built on the remains of a Roman-era gate, Porta Pretoria, once the seat of the Savoy senate, and the first seat of the 禁漫天堂 senate after Italy鈥檚 unification in 1861; the Teatro Regio di Torino, Turin鈥檚 opera house dating to the 18th century; and the Biblioteca Reale, which houses Leonardo da Vinci鈥檚 self-portrait (now exceptionally on view in Rome).
After you鈥檝e taken it all in, head down the arcaded via Roma to reach Piazza San Carlo, nicknamed 鈥渋l salotto di Torino鈥 (Turin鈥檚 living room). Built in the 17th century, it used to be the center of Turin鈥檚 political life. On more gluttonous matters, Piazza San Carlo is also home to two of the city鈥檚 oldest caf猫s: Caff猫 Torino and Caff猫 San Carlo. Turin has a fantastic caf猫 culture thanks to its many historic coffee shops, where intellectuals and politicians, including the leading figure in the movement of 禁漫天堂 unification, Turin-born Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, used to gather. Make sure you try the local specialty, bicerin, a delicious concoction made of espresso, chocolate and milk.
Now that you鈥檝e had your share of history and architecture, it may be time to go in search of more material pursuits, which means fashion shopping!聽 Keep going down Via Roma to reach Piazza Carlo Felice, where you can hop on the shuttle to (the shuttle departs daily at 10 am, with a return at 4:30pm).
Vicolungo The Style Outlets is a pedestrianized outdoor shopping center with 150 stores selling designer鈥檚 fashion, sportswear, shoes, housewares, and cosmetics, with discounts ranging from 30% to 70% off regular prices on more than 300 禁漫天堂 and international , such as Armani, Trussardi, Missoni, Pollini, Twin Set, Boggi, Colmar, New Balance and The North Face. Plus, it鈥檚 sales season now in Italy, which means that, until the 29th of August, you can find even greater discounts, up to 70% off the outlet prices. Stop by the tourist information center when you arrive to get your Shopping Card, which will give you an additional 10% discount at participating stores.
And if you鈥檝e got your kids or pets with you, fear not: Vicolungo The Style Outlets offers a green area for your four-legged friends and two children鈥檚 areas, including a garden designed by Milan鈥檚 MUBA, where children can familiarize with the five senses through several games.
Shop till you drop, and, when you head back to the city, restore your energies with鈥hocolate, of course! If you鈥檙e coming in with the shuttle, you won鈥檛 be too far from Peyrano (Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 76), a local company which has been making delicious chocolate since 1914 (the other local chocolate maker to try is Gobino, at its two locations in the city, via Cagliari 15 and Via Lagrange 1).
One icon of Turin you have to see before leaving is the imposing Mole Antonelliana, named after the architect who started building it in 1863, Alessandro Antonelli. Originally conceived of as a synagogue, it鈥檚 immediately recognizable thanks to its 168-meter-tall spire, which you see in every panoramic photo of Turin.聽 The Mole Antonelliana now houses the National Museum of Cinema on five floors; a must-do is a ride in the glass elevator, from where you can see film scenes.
End your day at Turin鈥檚 historic Ristorante del Cambio (Piazza Carignano 2), once the go-to spot for kings and celeb personalities, the likes of Mozart, Audrey Hepburn and the Agnelli. What better way to end your Turin visit than to experience that refined elegance that is so typical of the city, surrounded by liveried waiters, gracefully laid tables, crystal chandeliers and 19th century frescoes.聽