Tourist information on Turin, Italy

Turin is a large city in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, known to Italians as Torino. Pleasantly situated on the left bank of the River Po, with the Alps in the distance, it has much to attract the discerning tourist - not only some superb natural scenery but an elegant city centre that is steeped in history and culture. Until recently, Turin has been better known as a centre of industry than of tourism. The automobile companies Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo are based here, and for over a century it has been one of the most economically active areas of Italy. Whilst it still remains an important hub of industry and technology, Turin is now gaining popularity as a tourist resort, and with its wide boulevards, grand palaces and aristocratic ambiance, it might almost be mistaken for Paris. It is also the home of the football teams Juventus F.C. and Torino F.C. and, through its world-class universities and colleges, a major centre of education.

Turin was originally a military camp founded by the Romans in the first century BC, named Augusta Taurinorum. When Rome fell, the city was captured by the Lombards and then the Franks. The Contea di Torino (County of Turin) was founded in the mid-10th century and soon came under the control of the Counts of Savoy. Towards the end of the 13th century, Turin was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy and became its capital in 1563. Almost overnight, Turin was transformed from an unassuming little town into a grand city and cultural centre to rival the other great European capitals. Ambitious building projects undertaken in the 16th and 17th centuries completely transformed Turin's urban landscape, with the streets arranged in a precise grid-like pattern that made it look more French than Italian. After the Treaty of Utrecht, the Kingdom of Sardinia was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy and the architect Filippo Juvarra was commissioned to undertake a thorough redesign of the city, making it even grander. Turin, along with the rest of Piedmont, was annexed by France in 1802, but was restored in 1814 after the defeat of Napoleon. In 1861, Turin was chosen to be the capital of a newly unified Italy. The capital moved to Florence in 1865 and then Rome in 1871. In the latter half of the 19th century, Turin underwent a period of rapid industrialisation. It was the city's high industrial output that made it a prime target for Allied bombing during the Second World War. After the war, Turin was quickly rebuilt and its industrial base strengthened, helped by an influx of immigrant workers from the south of Italy. Although the city has been affected by a decline in its automobile industry, it has benefited from growth in other areas, including high-tech industries. It hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

Turin's historic centre is unlike that of any other Italian city and offers an intoxicating mix of architectural styles, including Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical and Art Nouveau. Whilst the grand baroque palaces are what immediately grab the visitor's attention, there are many other structures of historical and architectural interest, not least of which is the city's panoply of ecclesial buildings. Turin's best-known landmark is the Mole Antonelliana, named after the man who designed it, Alessandro Antonelli. Built in 1888 as a synagogue, this currently houses the National Cinema Museum, a Mecca for any film enthusiast. 167 metres in height, it is considered the tallest museum in the world.

Piazza Castello is a popular public area at the heart of the city, and the location of some of Turin's grandest buildings. This is where you will find the Palazzo Reale, the royal palace of the House of Savoy which was extensively renovated in the 17th century. Its interiors are richly decorated with lavish furnishings and include the Armeria Reale (Royal Armoury), a large collection of arms from the 16th and 17th centuries. To the rear of the palace is an attractive French-style garden. Nearby is the Palazzo Madama, a 17th century baroque palace built, somewhat incongruously, onto a 15th century castle. A royal residence in the 17th and 18th centuries, this served as the headquarters of the provisional French government during the Napoleonic Wars, and became a royal art gallery in the 19th century. Today, the Palazzo Madama houses Turin's Museo Civico d'Arte Antica, the city's museum of ancient art.

Standing a short distance behind the Palazzo Reale is the Duomo di San Giovanni (Cathedral of St John the Baptist), which dates to the late 15th century and is built on the site of an ancient Roman theatre. Adjoining this is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, which houses the famous Turin Shroud, a piece of cloth in which the body of Christ is believed to have been wrapped after being taken down from the cross. Regrettably, the shroud is not publicly displayed and is kept safely locked away. Near to the Duomo is a Roman-medieval structure called the Palatine Towers. This was once one of the four Roman gates to the city and consists of two polygonal towers with a large central gateway. Turin's other important historical church is the Basilica of Superga, which is situated on a hill 10 km to the east of the city centre and is distinguished by its 74 metre high dome. Since the 18th century, this has served as a royal mausoleum and contains the tombs of the dukes of Savoy and some kings of Sardinia. Nearby, a plaque marks the spot where an aeroplane carrying the entire Turin football team crashed in 1949, killing all 31 people on board. To the west of Turin is the Castello di Rivoli (Castle of Rivoli), an unfinished 18th century castle that stands on the Rivoli hills.

Of the many museums that Turin has to offer the most important is easily its Egyptian Museum, which displays the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside Cairo. Its 30,000 exhibits trace the history of ancient Egypt back to Palaeolithic times and includes all of the familiar burial paraphernalia. Other museums of note are: the Museo dell'Automobile, a transport museum comprising 170 vehicles dating back to the 18th century; and the Museum of Oriental Art, which has one of Italy's most important collections of Asian art.

One of the main attractions of Turin is its abundance of green open spaces. Valentino Park is the largest and most popular park in the city, bordering the River Po to the south of the city centre. Situated a few kilometres to the northeast of the city centre is the River Po Park (Parco fluviale del Po), a vast natural reserve that offers not only acres of stunning scenery but also some spectacular views of the city. Other large parks around Turin include: Parco delle Pellerina, Parco del Colletto and the University botanical gardens.

Turin's nearest international airport is Turin Caselle Airport, situated 15 km north of the city in the town of Caselle. The airport's main operators are Alitalia and Air France, and there are flights to many European destinations, including Rome, Paris, London, Brussels, Munich and Madrid. There is a frequent bus service from the airport to the city centre. A cheaper alternative may be to fly to Malpensa airport (near Milan) and take a bus to Turin. The city's main train station, Porta Nuova, provides connections to the rest of Italy and beyond, whilst Porta Susa provides a regional rail service. An extensive and affordable bus service operates within the city.