Turin a Jewel of Northern Italy | Print |
Written by Jo Linsdell   

Located between the River Po and the base of the Alps in the Piedmont region in the North-West of Italy, Turin (Torino) is a beautiful and interesting city.

An often overlooked Italian treasure Turin became internationally famous for being the host city of the 2006 Winter Olympics. It is however also well known as for being the home of the Shroud of Turin (a linen cloth with a face that is commonly associated with Jesus Christ) and home to the Juventus football team.

Turin Italy panoramic viewWhat is the best way to get to Turin from Rome?

Turin has a small airport (Sandro Pertini) with European flights but the best way to get there is by train as Turin is a major hub on the Italian train line. The main train station is Porta Nuova.  It is situated at Piazza Carlo Felice in the center of town. Intercity buses are also an option.
What should someone see if they go to the city? Turin has a lot to offer with a vast selection of baroque cafes, museums and beautiful architecture.

As Turin is home to some of the best food in Italy you'll want to give your taste-buds a treat by sampling some of the 160+ types of cheese along with some of the areas famous wines. Turin is also chocolate heaven (modern-day chocolate bars originated in Turin) and you'll definitely want to try the speciality gianduja chocolate-hazelnut sauce.

Turin has a spectacular selection of cafes and so taking some time out to enjoy some of the wonderful pastries and watch the city can be very enjoyable. Try the local speciality drink Bicerin which consists of layers of coffee, chocolate and cream.

The Shroud of Turin is only displayed every 10 years so if you happen to visit during that time you might want to check it out. There is also a museum that is open daily, if you are not lucky enough to be there during a display.

Take a look at some of the fantastic Baroque buildings and piazzas like Palazzo Reale, Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo.

Il Quadrilatero is a good place for a stroll as this fascinating labyrinth of backstreets is dotted with delightful churches and markets.

An excellent cinema museum is housed in the Mole Antonelliana, a 167 meter high tower. A panoramic lift takes you to the top of the tower offering some amazing views of the city.

The Unification of Italy was proclaimed in Turin in 1861 and so a visit to the Museo del Risorgimento and some of the many Royal buildings in the city can be very interesting.

Turin also makes the perfect base for exploring the mountains and valleys in the area.
If you want to save some money during your visit check out the Turin and Piedmont Card which gives you free admission into various sites and discounts on tours, car rental and more.

How to get around Turin?

Electric mini-buses make it easy to get around the city centre and Turin also has an widespread network of trams and buses that run until midnight.

What is the best part of town for Turin hotels?

There are a large selection of hotels in the historic centre of Turin which are right near the main attractions.

If your travels take you to northern Italy, don't forget to make a stop in an often overlooked option for your Italian vacation...you won't regret it!

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