Turin Introduction: Turin, Torino in Italian, is an interesting and often overlooked city in the Piedmont region of Italy. Famous for the Shroud of Turin and Fiat auto plants, Turin has a lot more to offer. From its Baroque cafes and architecture to its arcaded shopping promenades and museums, Turin is a great city for wandering and exploring. Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics and makes a good base for exploring nearby mountains and valleys.
Turin Location: Turin is in the northwest of Italy in the Piemonte region between the Po River and the foothills of the Alps. Piemonte Map
Transportation to Turin: Turin is served by a small airport, Citta di Torino - Sandro Pertini, with flights to and from Europe. There is bus service connecting Turin's airport with Turin and the main railway station. A railway links the airport to GTT Dora Railway Station in the northwest of Turin. The closest airport for flights from the United States is in Milan, a little over an hour away by train.
Turin is a major hub on the Italian train line and intercity buses provide transportation to and from Turin.
Transportation in Turin: Turin has an extensive network of trams and buses that run from 5AM until midnight. There are also electric mini-buses in the city center. Bus and tram tickets can be bought in a tabacchi shop. A 28km metropolitan line is due for completion in 2006.
Turin's main railway station is Porta Nuova in central Turin at the Piazza Carlo Felice. The Porta Susa Station is the main station for trains to and from Milan and is connected to central Turin and the main station by bus.
Tourist Information in Turin: There are tourist offices at the Porta Nuova Railway Station and at the airport. The main office is in Piazza Castello and there is also one in Piazza Solferino.
You can find landromats and internet points in Turin with Lavasciuga
You can find landromats and internet points in Turin with Lavasciuga
Turin discount cards: See Turin and Piedmont Card for information about discount passes and the ChocoPass for chocolate tastings.
Food Specialities of Turin: The Piedmont region has some of the best food in Italy. Over 160 types of cheese and famous wines like Barolo and Barbaresco come from here as do truffles, plentiful in fall. Turin has some outstanding pastries, especially chocolate ones. Chocolate for eating as we know it today (bars and pieces) originated in Turin. The chocolate-hazelnut sauce, gianduja, is a specialty of Turin. Restaurant Recommendations
Turin's Cafe Society: Turin was one of the first cities in Italy to embrace a cafe society and has some of the best cafes in Italy. Besides coffee and other hot drinks, ice cream, pastries, and alcoholic drinks, many cafes in Turin serve sandwiches and even hot meals at lunch time and include food appetizers with the evening apertivi. Since you pay more to sit down, either inside or outside, make it worthwhile by spending some time at your table enjoying the scene.
Turin Hotels: Venere has user rated and reviewed Turin Hotels (book direct) with photos, descriptions, and maps.
Turin Festivals: Turin celebrates its patron saint in the Festa di San Giovanni June 24 with events all day and a huge fireworks display at night. Turin's big chocolate festival is in March. Turin has several music and theater festivals in summer and fall. During the Christmas season there is a 2-week street market and on New Year's Eve an open-air conert in the main piazza. The Turin Marathon in April attracts a huge number of international participants.
Turin Attractions: Turin has many museums. Walking around the city with its arcades, Baroque buildings, and beautiful piazzas can be very enjoyable.
- The Via Po is an interesting walking street with long arcades and many historic palaces and cafes. Start at Piazza Castello.
- Mole Antonelliana, a 167 meter tall tower built between 1798 and 1888, houses an excellent cinema museum. A panoramic lift takes you to the top of the tower for some expansive views of the city.
- Palazzo Carignano is the birthplace of Vittorio Emanuele II in 1820. The Unification of Italy was proclaimed here in 1861. It now houses the Museo del Risorgimento and you can see the royal apartments Royal Armoury, too.
- Museo Egizio is the third most important Egyptian museum in the world. It is housed in a huge baroque palace which also holds the Galleria Sagauda with a large collection of historic paintings.
- Piazza San Carlo, known as the "drawing room of Turin", is a beautiful baroque square with the twin churches of San Carlo and Santa Cristina as well as the above museum.
- Piazza Castello and Palazzo Reale are at the center of Turin. The square is a pedestrian area with benches and small fountains, ringed by beautiful, grand buildings.
- Il Quadrilatero is an interesting maze of backstreets with sprawling markets and splendid churches. This is another good place wo wander.
- Elegant and historic bars and cafes are everywhere in central Turin. Try a bicerin, a local layered drink made with coffee, chocolate, and cream. Cafes in Turin also serve other interesting trendy coffee drinks.
Winter Olympics 2006 in Turin
Turin was host for the 2006 Winter Olympics with events in town and in seven nearby localities. The awards ceremonies took place in Turin's central piazza, Piazza Castello, integrating Italy's history and piazza culture with the Olympics. Read more about the Torino Winter Olympics
