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Home » Tourism » Turin, Italy

Turin, Italy

08/02/2016 by Amanda

Once the capital of Italy, Turin oozes traditional Italian charm and good looks, minus the crowds of Rome and Florence.

Turin

The very first capital of Italy, after unification, Turin nestles at the foot of the Alps and is now the administrative centre of the region of Piedmont. Without knowing much more than that about the city, we decided to base ourselves there while we explored the local wine region and the incredible Bra cheese festival – and we’ve been congratulating ourselves on our choice ever since. A little research was all it took to find that the city was a world leader in the development of hard chocolate and that, combined with the reputation of the Piemontese wines, was really all it took to convince me I needed to be there.

Turin skyline at dawn

Skyline, Turin

Once there, I took one look our of our hotel window and was convinced – this truly is one of the most charming cities I’ve ever visited. Turin is not a large city, with a population of just under 1 million it is smaller than my home town of Adelaide. Laid out in a neat grid pattern, the elegant, easily navigated streets are lined with trees and Gothic, Baroque, neo-classical and art nouveau architecture, interspersed with many small squares – most of which are generously planted green space.

architecture turin

turin roman gates

The Roman gates, Turin.

Mole dome and spire, turin

Mole dome and spire dominating the skyline of Turin.

green Turin squares

The green squares of Turin

The skyline is dominated by the Mole Antonelliana, the tallest brick building in Europe. This spire-topped domed building was originally intended as a synagogue but the building work, begun in 1863, was later taken over by the town council. The concept had expanded and outgrown it’s budget and the building now houses the Museo Nazionale del Cinema – one of the most significant specialist collections on cinema in the world.

The 50 metre high dome is elaborately embellished inside with extensive gilded decorations and a glass elevator suspended from the spire takes visitors up into a small temple in the spire, from which there is a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city.

View from the Mole spire, turin

View from the Mole spire, Turin.

In the 16th century the house of Savoy, one of the oldest royal families in the world, moved to Turin and from there it led the unification of Italy in 1861. Through a strategic Savoy marriage to a daughter of Prince Phillip II of Spain, Turin became the European chocolate capital, embracing this new product that the Spanish were bringing home from their colonies, and opening the very first chocolate house – serving hot chocolate, in the late 1600’s.

Coffee shop in the Savoy royal palace, turin

Coffee shop in the Savoy royal palace, Turin

utensils in royal palace, Turin

Some of the crockery and cutlery used in the Royal Palace, Turin.

Jug, royal palace, Turin

From there it spread the love of chocolate throughout Europe. An international shortage of cocoa during the Napoleonic war forced Piedmontese chocolate makers to be creative and, by adding locally grown hazelnut meal to their chocolates, gianduiotto, the traditional Turin chocolate, was created. As you’d expect, there are plenty of boutique chocolate stores in this town – each of them well worth hunting down. All I can say is that I did my very best.

Turin chocolate

turin gianduia

The famous Turin gianduia

Turin doesn’t seem to attract as many of the international tourists that some of the major Italian cities see, so there are much less of the tiresomely homogeneous chain stores that line every main shopping drag in every major city in the world. Here you will still find interesting little independently owned businesses and tempting boutiques. The restaurants and bars are fabulous, as one would expect from the home of, not only chocolate, but vermouth, too.

turin, palazzo carignano

Palazzo Carignano, once used as parliament house but now a museum,Turin

A bull, emblem of turin

The Turin emblem – a bull.

Once a prosperous manufacturing centre and the home of Fiat, Turin has reinvented itself after falling on hard times and now boasts a thriving creative arts scene and some extraordinary museum riches. As well as the National Cinema Museum it is home to the most important collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Cairo. Like other Italian cities, it is beautiful -and also friendly, easy to get around, has a fantastic food and wine culture and is a little cheaper for travellers. In fact, it is my new favourite Italian city.

doorway turin

Turin

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz (Good Things)

    February 08, 2016 at 7:47 am

    What a charming place to visit Amanda! I particularly like the fact that it doesn’t attract as many visitors… my kind of place to see.

  2. Jacqui

    February 08, 2016 at 9:28 am

    I was in Turin last year – absolutely loved it! Favourite place of the trip!

  3. Hotly Spiced

    February 12, 2016 at 4:11 pm

    Your images are stunning, Amanda, especially the first one. I much prefer visiting places that are a little more off the tourist-track; I find that’s where you can experience the culture a little more authentically. The chocolate looks amazing xx

  4. Tania | My Kitchen Stories

    February 14, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    I have never been to Turin, it is one city in Italy i have managed to never get to. you have certainly sold it to me though Amanda. I really would like to Bra one day to experience the cheese festival as well. well done you!

  5. Lorraine @Not Quite Nigella

    February 14, 2016 at 5:31 pm

    Italy is a gorgeous place. Do you read Debra’s blog? I always marvel at how stunning some areas of it are that you don’t often read about.

Trackbacks

  1. Basilica di Superga, Turin says:
    21/03/2016 at 8:11 am

    […] Basilica is 75 metres high and caught my eye as we drove into Turin, after having flown into Milan. I could see it’s well-lit shape from our hotel window and one […]

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