Ten things to see in Turin in one day

1) Piazza Castello and its palaces

It is the beating heart of Turin, Piazza Castello, with its Savoy residences.
On the one hand, the palace of Madama Cristina di Borbone (whose façade is by Juvarra), a truly unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its duplicity that wants one side to be baroque and the other medieval.

Inside there is the interesting Civic Museum of Ancient Art, but it is worth taking a peek even at the imposing white staircase, considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Next to Palazzo Madama there is Palazzo Reale, the work of Ascanio Vitozzi and Carlo di Castellamonte.

Today, in addition to the royal apartments, the Palace houses one of the richest collections of ancient weapons and armor in the world and, inside, the peaceful gardens, recently returned to the public, can be visited.

2) Shopping in via Roma and via Lagrange

The city of Turin retains its proverbial elegance even when it comes to shopping.

Proof of this are the beautiful shop windows that overlook the arcades of Via Roma, the street that houses the most luxurious and fashionable shops in the center.
Parallel to via Roma runs via Lagrange, another nerve center of shopping in the city (also in terms of food and wine).

3) A coffee in Piazza San Carlo

The point of arrival of the arcades of via Roma is piazza San Carlo Torino, considered the “good living room of Turin ”.
An immense pedestrian square with an equestrian statue in the center and, at the end, the delightful and unique twin churches of San Carlo and Santa Cristina.

Here you cannot fail to enjoy a coffee in one of the historic spots in the area, which have remained intact since the Savoy era in their beautiful Baroque furnishings.



4) The Egyptian Museum

The real highlight of Turin's museums, the Egyptian Museum in Turin is the oldest museum in the world, and is dedicated to the civilization of the Nile.

The collection - second only to that of Cairo - is made even more precious by the grandiose layout developed since the last renovation.
In particular, the Galleria dei Re is truly impressive, the statuary with a magical luminous atmosphere created by the Oscar-winning set designer Dante Ferretti.

5) The cathedral of San Giovanni Battista

A place of great spirituality, the Turin Cathedral is the only Renaissance-style religious building in the city.
Its white marble facade, flanked by the bell tower, is unique in the Turin landscape.

But the real attraction of this monument is the Guarini dome , which was hit by a fire over twenty years ago and reopened to the public in 2018.
Here is kept the Holy Shroud , the most famous relic of the Christian world, whose periodic display attracts tens of thousands of faithful to the city .

6) Palazzo Carignano and the Museum of the Risorgimento

The city of Turin offers those who visit it the opportunity to take on the role of Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, sipping a coffee in the same square where he did it, during breaks from his work in the Chamber of Deputies.

The first Italian parliamentarians gathered right here, in the building where Vittorio Emanuele II was born, characterized by a truly unique curvilinear facade, designed by Guarino Guarini.
Precisely by virtue of its history, the building now houses the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento.

7) The Cinema Museum and the Mole Antonelliana

The symbol of the city of Turin par excellence is the majestic Mole by Alessandro Antonelli, which dominates the entire city center.

Born as a synagogue and sold to the Municipality of Turin when the visionary architect's project turned out to be pharaonic, today it houses one of the most beautiful and entertaining museums in the city, the National Cinema Museum.
Do not miss the panoramic lift that takes you to the top of the building.



8) Piazza Vittorio and Piazza Gran Madre

The people of Turin have the strange habit of renaming places in the city of Turin: so the largest arcaded square in Europe, dedicated to Vittorio Veneto, is simply known as "piazza Vittorio".
A meeting place crowded with dehors, the square overlooks the river Po, beyond which is Piazza Gran Madre di Dio, with its church inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

9) The Valentino park and the medieval village

A short walk along the banks of the Po is a relaxing experience that every tourist visiting Turin should indulge in.

Overlooking the river is a beautiful medieval-style castle, which is actually a historical forgery, built for the Italian General Exposition of 1884.
All around, the beautiful Valentino park, a very popular green lung of Turin.

10) An evening in San Salvario, between piole and clubs

Turin is a young and lively city, as shown by some of the neighborhoods that are the protagonists of its nightlife.
One above all is San Salvario, a succession of places to have a drink and listen to music.

Here you will also find some more authentic examples of the typical Piedmontese trattorias, the so-called “piole” , where to sit down to taste some veal with tuna sauce or Russian salad accompanied by a good glass of Barbera is an unmissable experience.

So, if you were asking yourself the question "what to see in Turin?" now know that you are spoiled for choice: these are only ten of the thousand attractions that this city offers to its tourists!