A Presto, Torino!

When in Italy, go beyond Rome, Florence, and Venice. Ishita Sood offers a weekend guide to the charming city of Turinits history, food, and flea markets.

ONLY AN HOUR’S DRIVE from Milan is Italy’s first capital, Turin. Known as Torino in Italian, this north Italian city is the birthplace of globally acclaimed brands like Fiat, Martini, and Lavazza, and the capital of the region of Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian). It offers a welcome change of setting with its Parisian-styled architecture and a respite from the crowds of Rome and Venice. The city’s 18-kilometre-long porticoes give it a distinctive flair, and its symbol of a bull is everywhere—from fountainheads to the emblem of the official football team.

EXPLORE TORINO

There is a lot to see and do in Turin, and the best way to start is by taking a walk in its many graceful piazze and galleries. One of the most striking is the Piazza Castello, which features the shopping street Via Garibaldi on one side, and the city’s most important palaces, Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, on the other. A short walk from Castello are the standout twin churches of Santa Cristina and San Carlo Borromeo, located in Piazza San Carlo. One of Turin’s most popular piazze, this place offers a glimpse into the cafe culture of the Piemontese city.

A brief walk of 20 minutes from Piazza San Carlo leads you to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, close to the banks of the river Po. The gigantic tower of Turin known as Mole Antonelliana is a striking sight from Vittorio Veneto. Often compared to Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the Mole was built in the 19th century and houses the renowned Museo Nazionale del Cinema (National Museum of Cinema). Take a guided tour of the impressive exhibits on the evolution and history of cinema at a price of Ì€ 630. It is the perfect way to unwind after a long day, with the Eataly food store being in the same building.