Located in the Western Alps, overlooked by snow-capped peaks and surrounded by the River Po, Turin offers expatriates an abundance of leisure activities. Famous for its ancient and modern history, Turin is an elegant city with palaces, museums, parks, restaurants and historic houses, as well as 18 km of "portici" (porticoes) at the foot of historic buildings.
Palaces, museums and galleries in Turin
Turin is an important center of European culture, with monuments, royal palaces, churches and numerous art galleries. Points of interest include the magnificent Royal Palace (and, of course, the Royal Museums), which is part of the complex of residences of the Savoia family when Italy was a monarchy. Don't miss the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione Consolata, which is also a sanctuary. If you are fond of museums, two important institutions in Turin are the National Cinema Museum with the Mole Antonelliana and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, the most important in the world after Cairo!
To the north of the city stands the splendid Royal Palace of La Venaria, its estate and its Italian gardens. The 17th-century palace, built at the request of the Savoia royal family, covers 80,000 square meters and is surrounded by 60 hectares of gardens. This architectural masterpiece was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Today, the Venaria Reale is a museum that you can visit.
Turin is a city of squares, both large and small and intimate. Let yourself be carried along on your walks, and you will discover some amazing places. A monumental square is certainly Piazza Castello, but also and above all Piazza San Carlo, with its imposing buildings and elegant porticoes that host beautiful historical shops and bars, as well as renowned chocolate makers where you can taste the famous Gianduja, created in Turin.
There are also beautiful covered galleries, including Galleria Subalpina, Galleria Umberto I and Galleria San Federico. In the former, stop at the city's historical (19th century) bar and chocolatier, Baratti e Milano for a coffee, hot chocolate, or dessert.
After a stroll through the historic center, head to the hills of Turin and visit the Superga Basilica, which dominates the city, and the Villa della Regina, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Turin. Outside the metropolis, visit the Castello di Rivoli, which houses the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the castles of Agliè and Masino, which are wonderful examples of Renaissance architecture.
Parks in Turin
Turin has the reputation of being one of the greenest places in Europe, with about 25 parks. Most of Turin's parks and gardens are located along the four rivers that run through the city. The most famous park is undoubtedly the Parco del Valentino, a vast park that includes a castle and a medieval village. Open-air shows and film screenings are regularly held here during the summer. Botany lovers should not miss the botanical gardens, which have been an integral part of the University of Turin since the 18th century. The garden has a 500-year-old flowerbed, an orangery, a greenhouse and a museum with a herbarium.
Shopping in Turin
Turin has over 18 km of shopping arcades in the historic center, which were created for the royal house of Savoy. Within these picturesque galleries, you will find shops and bars, including Via Roma, Via Lagrange, Via Po and Piazza San Carlo, which house major Italian and international brands. The Galleria Subalpina, a beautiful Art Nouveau building, offers books, records and antiques in attractive old-style shops.
If you like to stroll and shop at the market, we recommend the huge market of Porta Palazzo, which includes stalls outside and inside dedicated halls. For flea markets and antique lovers, don't miss the Balôn market, the largest in Europe. You'll find everything from antique furniture and vintage crockery to clothes and accessories and religious objects. Other local market highlights include the Crocetta and Piazza Madama Cristina.
Sports in Turin
The Alps offer a wealth of renowned and quality services, making Turin the ideal destination for sports lovers. The Alta Val Susa and Chisone have modern facilities for skiing and snowboarding. There are many well-equipped ski areas with advanced slopes open to both beginners and experts. Of course, trekking and cycling enthusiasts will also find suitable trails in spring and summer.
In Turin, as elsewhere in Italy, it is possible to practice a wide range of sports activities, and throughout the city, there are swimming pools, tennis clubs, football clubs and palaces (sports and fitness rooms), as well as well-organized sports complexes. The city's website lists all the facilities available in the city. Visit Sport Torino to discover them.
Gastronomy in Turin
Turin, and Piedmont in general, has a renowned gastronomy. It is the region of the porcini mushrooms but also and above all of the white truffle. And did you know that Gianduja, the famous chocolate recipe enriched with hazelnuts, was invented in Turin? In Turin, you can't miss the wine, such as Barolo, Nebbiolo, or Barbera, one of the most incredible gastronomic pride of the Piedmont region, along with the truffle. If you are a coffee lover, you should know that Lavazza originates from Turin, and you can taste it in all the bars of the city.
Whether you are visiting or living in Turin, try Tajarin with ragù, a long, thin egg pasta with meat ragout, or Brasato or Guancia di vitello with Barolo, braised beef or veal cheek cooked in Barolo. Try agnolotti del plin, a kind of small ravioli stuffed with meat, vitello tonnato, soft slices of veal with tuna, caper and anchovy sauce, as a starter. Sweet tooths will appreciate the bunet, a kind of chocolate, hazelnut and amaretti pudding, sometimes flavored with coffee and rum, but also the bicerin, a coffee specialty prepared with melted chocolate and milk. A bar from the 18th century is dedicated to it in Turin, the Caffè al Bicerin, on the Piazza della Consolata. Don't miss the famous hazelnut pie or the chocolate specialties from the best chocolate houses in the city, Guido Gobino, Baratti e Milano, Stratta, or Pfatisch.
Nightlife in Turin
Turin is home to one of the most prestigious universities in Italy and offers a fantastic and varied nightlife for young people. The streets are lit up by the many wine bars, restaurants and jazz clubs. You will enjoy an abundance of classical music, theatre and opera. For concerts and artistic performances, head to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Borgo Dora and the Quadrilatero Romano. Valentino Park is also a well-known meeting place, and the boats along the Po River offer a great atmosphere, as do the clubs for night owls. The city center - Via Po, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Mazzini, Corso Matteotti - is always busy and lively: after the cinema, the theatre or dinner, there are many pubs, ice-cream parlors and bars to end the evening in style. Finally, along the roads that run along the Po River are many of the city's discos.
Famous theatres include the Teatro Regio, where Puccini performed "La Bohème" and one of the most prestigious in Europe and a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, but also the Teatro Carignano, the Teatro Gobetti. The Auditorium del Lingotto and the RAI Auditorium are modern, grandiose structures that host prestigious musical events. The latter is home to the RAI National Symphony Orchestra. The Officine Grandi Riparazioni (OGR), formerly a 19th-century train construction site, has become an art and innovation hub on the outskirts of the city. It hosts international exhibitions, shows, concerts, theatre performances, and contemporary art events.
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