Royal Palace
Located in the north, at the foot of the Alps, the city of Turin is one of the most important in Italy. And not only because of its industrial and business strength, but also because of its relevance in the history of the country. It is the capital of the Piedmont region, whose monarchy captained the Italian unification in the XNUMXth century, with King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy and his Prime Minister Cavour at the head.
Therefore, Turin has a long history that has been reflected in numerous monuments, it is surrounded by wonderful alpine landscapes and it has a rich gastronomy. If you want to visit it, we invite you to travel with us.
What to see in Turin
The Piedmontese city was born in the XNUMXst century of our era from a Roman camp. And throughout its history it has suffered various vicissitudes that have left a rich monumental heritage in it. Some of the essential visits that you must do in Turin are the following.
Turin cathedral
Cathedral of San Juan Bautista
Built in the XNUMXth century, it responds to the canons of the Italian Renaissance. Its white marble façade and a large octagonal dome stand out. Its plant has three naves crossed by a large transept and several chapels on the sides.
But perhaps the highlight of the cathedral is that it houses the famous Holy Shroud, which the Church considers the shroud worn by Jesus Christ. Specifically, it is found in an annexed chapel, the work of the architect Guarino Guarini placeholder image What can you visit.
The Mole Antonelliana, symbol of Turin
It is one of the great symbols of Turin, since for decades it was the tallest building in the city, standing one hundred and sixty meters high. It was built by the architect Alessandro Antonelli (hence its name) following the canons of XNUMXth century eclecticism. For this reason, it has a unique appearance, with a large quadrangular dome at the top.
The Sabaudas Residences
They receive this name palaces of the Royal House of Savoy which are found throughout the city and throughout Piedmont. The set is Heritage and among those buildings you must visit, at least, the following.
Carignano Palace
The Royal Palace
You will find it in the heart of Turin, specifically in the popular Castle plaza. It responds to three architectural styles: the Baroque, the Neoclassical and the Rococo. Also, of the building, you have to see the Gardens of the Royal Park and, in the square mentioned, the church of San Lorenzo with its spectacular octagonal dome. Likewise, inside the palace you will find impressive rooms decorated with tapestries.
Madama Palace
It is also in the Plaza del Castillo and is an amazing building. Because it consists of two very different parts. The front is impressive as it follows the canons of the colossal order, while the rear still retains the appearance of a medieval castle. Inside, you can also visit the Municipal Museum of Ancient Art.
Carignano Palace
It was built by Guarino Guarini, the great architect of Turin, who has also bequeathed us works in other Italian cities such as Messina or Verona and in some European capitals such as Paris or Lisbon. It is a beautiful building that currently houses the National Museum of the Risorgimento, dedicated to the process of unification of Italy.
The Basilica of Superga
Located on a hill near the city, it is the work of Filippo Juvarra and responds to the classicism of the XNUMXth century, although it has Baroque elements. It is also a symbol because it has served as mausoleum of the kings of the House of Savoy.
Basilica of Superga
San Carlo Square
It is one of the largest and most popular in the Italian city. It was inaugurated in 1638 and is consecrated to San Carlos Borromeo. In it stand out, precisely, the church of this saint and Santa Cristina's, as well as the large equestrian statue dedicated to Manuel Filiberto de Saboya. If you visit it, do not miss one of its famous cafes, which have been a meeting point for intellectuals and politicians. Among them are the Torino and the Stratta confectionery, famous throughout Italy.
Egyptian Museum
Turin is also known for its many museums. One of the most relevant is the Egyptian. It's in the Palace of the Academy of Science and contains one of the most important collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world, second only to the Cairo Museum.
Turinese gastronomy
In Turinese cuisine, meat, some vegetables and cheese, as well as pasta, typical of all of Italy, have a lot of prominence. But, curiously, in some of its most popular dishes there is an unexpected ingredient: the anchovies.
Among those typical dishes, stands out the Bagna cauda, a sauce that is made with a lot of garlic, olive oil and, precisely, anchovies. It is served hot to accompany certain vegetables. Also typical of the city is the Vitello tonnato or finely cut veal and seasoned with a sauce made of boiled egg, capers, tuna and anchovies.
Other dishes that you must try are the raw meat all'Albese or fried mixed turinese. The latter is not suitable for all tastes because it contains animal entrails mixed with different types of food such as apples, chocolate or corn grits.
San Carlo Square
As for desserts, we recommend the green tomini, a cheese served with sauce, and the Bonetti, which is a delicious pudding made with eggs, sugar, milk, rum, and cocoa. It is served hot or in the form of ice cream and is accompanied with small almond cookies.
Special mention should truffle, especially the white, which occurs in abundance in Piedmont and that the Turinese eat in any way. And you should also try the wines, very prominent in the region and among which stands out the Barolo.
How to get to Turin
The Italian city has an airport, that of Turin-Caselle, to which international flights arrive. It also owns several railway stations. The most important of these is New door, to which the trains coming from the north arrive. As for the roads, from France they take you to Turin the A32 and the A5, which passes through the Aosta valley.
Once in the city, you can move in metro, which has two lines and works without a driver or in bus, with vehicles that connect all its neighborhoods.
In conclusion, Turin is one of the wonders of Italy. Historic and cosmopolitan, it offers you numerous monuments and museums, but also beautiful natural spaces, delicious cuisine and a lot of social life. Do you dare to visit it?