Turin is sophisticated and coolly understated but still boasts that inimitable flair only an Italian city can master. Situated in the north of the country, at the thigh of the Italian leg, you can sense the presence of nearby France and Switzerland in Turin.
Make time to fully absorb the city’s fabulous Renaissance architecture, vast piazzas, and ambitious Baroque cathedral. But be sure to stop and notice much later influences in the fabric of the city. Art Nouveau (known locally as ‘Liberty’) made a lasting impact here, as you will observe in the detail of fine public buildings and the elegant interiors of coffee shops and boutiques.
However, in the last decade Turin’s creative and entrepreneurial populations have once again excelled, rebooting the city with a great array of forward-thinking new shops, cafés, restaurants and galleries.
See the Holy Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is a relic like no other, a mysterious piece of fabric said to be imprinted with the image of Jesus Christ himself. Some believe it to be the actual shroud in which he was buried, while other insist it is a piece of medieval trickery. You can decide for yourself by taking a look at the artefact at the Cathedral of Turin.
See a UNESCO World Heritage site
The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy are always popular with visitors to Turin. A collection of six properties scattered across Turin itself and further afield in Piedmont, these architectural gems were commissioned by the Duke of Savoy in 1562. Many people make the trip to Turin primarily to see them all.
Browse Piazza Castello
Although there are many stunning piazzas in Turin, Piazza Castello is the largest and the most central. Parts of it date back as far as the 1300s, although the main thrust of the incredible architecture was designed and built between the 1600s and the 1800s. This piazza is also moments from the Museo Egizio, or the Egyptian Museum. Here, visitors can lose themselves in the world’s most impressive collection of Egyptian treasure outside of Egypt itself.
