10 Things Not to Miss When in Turin

By Lucia Hannau

While not often on most visitors itinerary, Turin, the regional capital of Piedmont located in the northwest corner of the boot, boasts some amazing gems and is steep in history.

Turin was the first Italian capital in 1861, and many Italian national symbols were founded here. One example is Italian cinema, and this explains why the Mole Antonelliana, Turin’s landmark building is home to the national cinema museum.

Including the Mole Antonelliana, here are 10 things not to miss when in Turin. This city will simply surprise you!

10 Things not to miss in Turin

1. Mole Antonelliana

In Italian mole means a mound, a large amount; antonelliana comes from Alessandro Antonelli, the architect that designed the tallest building in Europe. The Turin city symbol building was originally meant to be a synagogue but due its sky-rocketing costs and going beyond the original plans – taller than planned, the Jewish community renounced it and decided to build their synagogue in another area in the city.

The city then took over this project and the Mole Antonelliana, completed in 1889, was finally dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. Up until 1953, there was the statue of an angel on top of the Mole pinnacle, but it fell during a violent storm and got replaced by a star. Today, you can still see Turin’s guardian angel when you visit the fantastic interactive museum. And imagine the view from the top!

2. For chocolate-lovers

Chocolate definitely makes Turin a real chocolate heaven. The whole region of Piedmont has been highly renowned for the past 4 centuries for its chocolate making techniques and many famous products, such as Nutella, are today part of the daily routine of millions of people worldwide.

Turin even has its own traditional chocolate: the gianduiotto. Gianduiotti are typically wrapped in gold foil and keep the shape of the chocolate dollops when they are gently laid on the pastry sheet by master chocolate makers. Thus the Gobino’s chocolate factory should definitely be on your itinerary as you go through the history of this family of chocolate makers and enjoy some samples of their products.

3. Mercato di Porta Palazzo

Another foodie place par excellence is the largest open market in Europe: the Mercato di Porta Palazzo, also known as Turin’s kitchen because the whole city shops here on a daily basis. Get your cameras ready and keep in mind that every month the display of produce are different as there are seasonal!

Once you are done at the market, make the most of your time in this area by wandering through the lanes bordering Piazza Porta Palazzo. These lanes lead to the pedestrian-only streets of Via Garibaldi and the San Lorenzo Cathedral, where the Holy Shroud is preserved (and will be exhibited in 2015).

4. Quadrilatero Romano

Literally translated as the Roman rectangle, il quadrilatero romano is the ancient Roman neighborhood. You’ll love strolling down from the Roman Porte Palatine, marking the entrance to the Roman military settlement that became Turin over the centuries.

Pick one of the many trendy restaurants for dinner and discover their regional menus based on local products. Finally, don’t forget to peek into one of the indie designers’ shops based in this very creative neighborhood.

After walking through Via Garibaldi, a 1km long open air shopping mall, built on the ancient Roman decumanus maximus, one of the two main streets of the Roman settlement, you’ll end up in Piazza Castello.

5. Palazzo Carignano

A quick hop from Piazza Castello will lead you to Piazza Carignano, a tiny elegant square, one of Turin’s living-rooms, where you’ll find  Palazzo Carignano, the very first Italian Parliament. Palazzo Carignano is the perfect example of Piedmontese Baroque with its ribbon-like moving façade and the balcony from which the King used to wave at the population.

6. The Egyptian Museum

Next to Palazzo Carignano, you’ll find the Egyptian Museum with the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world. This museum will simply amaze you with its well-preserved collection: the statuary will leave you breathless as the light is set up so spectacularly that the statues almost look like they are alive.

There’s also a whole unrolled book of the dead, three royal mummies and the reconstruction of the tombs of a royal architect and his wife that displays all their grave goods, including the foods and the make-up products.

7. Valentino Park

Doubtless, the most romantic place in Turin is the Valentino Park, on the Po river bank, where you can visit a fake local medieval village, the botanic garden and the Valentino castle where there is the school of architecture.

8. Royal Palace in Venaria

Speaking of castles, one of the most amazing residences is the Royal Palace in Venaria, in the suburb of Turin. This 17^th century UNESCO palace will remind you of Versailles thanks to its extended gardens and checkered marble floors. If you happen to be here in the summer you can actually participate in the  royal buffets!

9. Eataly

Besides the castles, the local food culture and attention to the quality of the ingredients are definitely part of the Savoy heritage. After all, the Italian royal dynasty ruled this area for over 10 centuries so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Slow Food movement originated in Piedmont. Consequently, Eataly chose Turin to open its first store in the Lingotto area, a few subway stops from the city center.

10. Arcades

Ultimately, you just won’t be able to forget Turin’s elegance and pragmatism with its “friendly” downtown developed on a grid, like Manhattan, so you’ll never get lost. And there are also its “thoughtful” 10.5miles/17km of arcades that provide you with a pleasant shade in the summer and a complete shelter from the rain and snow – a perfect place to window shop regardless of the weather!

Have you been to Turin? Share your experience with us in the comments below.

Author’s Bio: Lucia Hannau was born and raised in Turin, Italy. She is the chief organizer of Turin Epicurean Capital an international food lit event to share Turin and Piedmont goodies. For the latest updates on this event, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.