Turin or Torino is a large metropolis not that far from Milan. We opted to spend three nights here on our Northern Italy adventure, but it really stands alone as a place to visit alongside other larger Italian cities. Easily combined with Milan we would definitely recommend a visit to Torino.
We stayed at the Turin Palace Hotel near the train station and while there were a few characters sleeping on the street and panhandling, this is to be expected in most larger cities and especially around train stations. The hotel itself was great and within easy walking distance of all the major attractions.
That first evening it was raining heavily but we were able to explore some of the city-center by sticking to the covered sidewalks along Via Roma and Via Po, a nice touch!
Day 1 in Turin
Royal Palace of Turin
We started our tour with the Royal Palace. Built in the 16th century and the former seat of power of the House of Savoy, the Palazzo Reale is now home to the Royal Museums.
The Royal collections are extensive. From the impressive armory complete with horses in full war uniforms, to the many elaborately decorated rooms, this was more than a very nice museum.
The site actually houses multiple museums, a park, and even the vestiges of an ancient Roman theater. It would be easy to spend half a day here and the extensive collection and restoration put this site on the scale of a Versailles or Chantilly. Truly a wonderful site to visit, and not to be missed.
Mole Antonelliana
One of the landmarks in Torino is the towering Mole Antonelliana. You can buy tickets to take a lift to the top of the spire and for the Cinema Museum. We loved both. The views from the tower were great and despite a long line for the small elevator it was worth waiting to get up there.
On a whim we bought a combo ticket for the museum too and were not sure what to expect. It was impressive and we were pleasantly surprised and glad that we did. It housed all kinds of old movie working props from silent movie times. There were many good exhibits with great explanations of the various aspects of the movie making process.
We also loved some of the great quotes, including one from the early 1900s about how movie making will change to be 3D and holographic.
Along the Po River
Just across the Po River is the Gran Madre di Dio, a pantheon-like building made in 1827. Definitely worth a visit, this was very nice inside.
We also walked to a park, Parco del Valentino which was a large park next to the river but we were getting tired and at first glance there didn’t seem to be much to see. We understood that there was a university campus in a former palace on the far end, but the sun was brutal and we opted to skip this.
Day 2 in Turin
We headed out the next day to the Gates of Hell which was basically just a brass door knocker on the carved wood entrance to a bank. More of a quick photo stop should you be in the area.
Porta Palatina
Next, we ventured to the impressive Palatine Gate located next to a nice open-air park with remnants of a wall and intact Roman-era gate with two 5-story towers in red brick.
Turin Cathedral and Shroud of Turin
Next to the gate there was the large Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. The famous Shroud of Turin is housed there. A miraculous (but contested) imprinted picture of the face and body of Jesus on the shroud with which he had been wrapped for burial after he was taken down from the cross.
Built in the late 1400s the cathedral is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and is now the seat of the Archbishops of Turin. Next to it there is also a bell tower.
From here we headed back towards Piazza Castello where we had a quick lunch at a café next to the castle, along with some gelato of course!
Palazzo Madama
Palazzo Madama was also a spectacular museum and we spent hours going through it all. Built over an ancient Roman city you could walk over the ancient ruins of the old city on a glass floor in the basement.
You could then take a lift to the rooftop viewing area to see all of Turin and even get some good views of the Alps in the distance. A map showed an outline of the mountain peaks in the distance naming Monviso Visolortto at 3841 meters, Gran Paradiso at 4061 meters, and Monta Rosa at 4638 meters.
At the time of our visit the façade was under renovation but don’t let that deter you. The palace has a long history going back almost two thousand years. From a 1st century Roman gate to a medieval castle in the 13th century to a Royal residence in the 17th and 18th centuries, it became an astronomical observatory and seat of the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century. The Civic Museum is well worth a visit and the collections housed inside are extensive.
We also liked that we could access the moat and walk around the base of the castle between the tall walls. They had planted a lovely garden and it gave a nice perspective.
Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano
This museum is dedicated to the history of the City of Turin. Inside you can see the Old Parliament chamber. It was an interesting museum to visit.
We loved the funny old political cartoons about Italian politics and the many wars fought over the years. The large gallery with huge paintings was also nice to see.
The museum is located inside the 17th century Palazzo Carignano, a baroque building with lavish décor and a grand staircase.
Across the piazza from the museum there’s the Turin National University Library. Unfortunately, it was closed when we were there, but we heard that it was nice to see and should definitely be added to an itinerary in Torino. This is also a good area for dinner.
Attractions further afield
Villa della Regina
If coming by car, it’s well worth stopping on the way at Villa della Regina, another lavish royal palace with a beautiful garden and great city views.
The site definitely needs some love and restoration, but the views were great and the lavish gardens very impressive. At the time of our visit there were some big storms rolling in so we didn’t linger too long in the garden.
Church of Santa Maria al Monte dei Cappuccini
Just across the Po River but still somewhat of a hike uphill is the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte dei Cappuccini.
The church dates back to 1583 and it’s a great spot to visit for vistas of Turin and the Alps beyond. From here we got a great view of the beautiful spire of the Mole Antonelliana. Take the car as there is some parking available.
Basilica of Superga
No matter where we were in Torino, seemingly always visible in the distance on a hilltop was the Basilica di Superga.
Before moving on to Lake Maggiore, we had to drive up for a quick look. The basilica is 75 meters high and the dome which was completed in 1726 was spectacular.The church is also the burial site of the Royal House of Savoy.
It’s definitely worth the visit just for the panoramic views. Be sure to climb the 131 stairs of the dome to have a look out over the city with the mountains in the background.
Conclusion
One thing is for sure, we are glad to have added a few days in Turin to our Northern Italy adventure. It’s a wonderful city with lots to see. And many of its best attractions are concentrated in Torino’s city-center. Furthermore, everything is close by making it easy to get around on foot. Of course, with only two full days in the city we had to be selective, and we did miss out on a few museums. Perhaps next time…