The ultimate city guide to Turin, Italy
Turin is like its Mole, elegant, ingenious, elusive. An atmosphere that hovers like the fog that fills the long theories of arcades in the streets of the center and spreads out into the harmonious squares, between equestrian monuments and dark statues. Sometimes, in autumn, the fog is so low and thick that only a few roofs suspended in the void and spiers remain of Turin.
The city is submerged in a set of soft lights and sounds that become deeper, it is then that Turin returns to being everything it was, from the small village inhabited by taurine tribes to its brief parenthesis as the capital of the Italian kingdom. In the cafes, where you can still find the liqueurs of an ancient Alpine tradition, Turin is still the city of the Savoy, in that warmth that smells of chocolate everything is as it was then. And while the fog dissolves as if sucked by the calm flowing Pò surrounded by large parks, the suburbs once inhabited by Fiat workers appear as if they had never existed. Cars, traffic lights, tram lines, Parisian-style dormers appear; traffic resumes. Turin is once again an industrial metropolis, the first in Italy, the only one for a long time. But mixed with the particles of smog that dirty the air, there continues to be that strange and elusive atmosphere, full of elegance and full of resourcefulness that gives this peaceful-looking city a surprising charm.
What to see and what to visit
The most famous building in Turin is the Mole Antonelliana whose spire 167 meters high dominates the city. The building has the appearance of a slender pagoda and was originally supposed to be the synagogue of the Turin Jewish community. According to the daring project of the architect Antonelli, the Mole was to be the tallest building in Europe. The bulk, however, never managed to achieve this record: various problems, both financial and structural, slowed down the work until completion in 1899 when the record already belonged to the Eiffel Tower. However, it still has the record for the tallest brick building ever! During the twentieth century, the Mole remained unused for several years, until restoration work began in 1987. Today it houses the National Cinema Museum and an impressive panoramic lift has been installed that leads directly under the spire.
Not far from the Mole is via Po, one of the main arteries of the city center. The course, through Piazza Vittorio, connects the Gran Madre di Dio on the left bank of the river, a neoclassical cathedral (1827-31) which houses the mausoleum-ossuary of the ‘15 -‘18 war, with Piazza Castello, in the heart of the city. Designed in 1584 by Vitozzi, the square takes its name from the imposing castle that stands in its center, Palazzo Madama. The building was obtained in medieval times from the old Roman doors and later renovated with the addition of the imposing eighteenth-century facade by the architect Juvarra. On the square, there are also the Royal Palace of the Savoy, the Teatro Regio, the Palazzo Della Giunta Regionale, that of the Prefecture, the Secretariats, the Armory and the Royal Library where works by Leonardo da Vinci are kept.
Adjacent to the square is the Renaissance cathedral dedicated to San Giovanni Battista and built-in 1491-98. Inside, the baroque chapel houses the silver reliquary containing the Holy Shroud. The facade of the Cathedral overlooks the Porte Palatine which in ancient times were part of the buildings that defended the Roman city Augusta Taurinorum and later became a medieval fortress, the Palatium, from which they take their name. Another important church in the city is certainly the Sanctuary of the Consolata, considered the most shining example of Baroque art in the Piedmontese capital.
12 kilometers from Piazza Castello, perched on the hills beyond the Po, is the Basilica of Superga. Work on its construction began in 1717 and took 14 years. The circular plan of the basilica is broken up by pronaos supported by eight columns which lead to an imposing staircase. Its dome, together with the two 60 meters high bell towers, dominates the valley and the city of Turin. Inside, a spiral staircase leads to the balcony of the drum of the dome, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city that stands out against the backdrop of the Alps just outlined on the horizon. The site is also a destination for pilgrimages of Torino FC fans, who come here to remember the late team of the so-called Grande Torino, who tragically died here in a plane crash on May 4, 1949.
To breathe deeply, it is not necessary to climb the Superga Hill: Turin offers two other fantastic green areas: closer to the center, but still, in the hills, we find the Parco Della Rimembranza (or Parco Della Vittoria), which offers magnificent views over the city. On this hillside, there is also the Villa Della Regina.
While on the left bank of the river Po we find the beautiful Parco del Valentino, with a medieval village inside (built in the last century) ideal for a walk with the family.
The museums of Turin
Absolutely to visit the Egyptian Museum which is located a short distance from Piazza S. Carlo, the city lounge: among the four largest in the world. The Egyptian Museum is state-owned and is open all year round. It has works of inestimable value and an enviable location in the center of the city in Via Accademia Delle Scienze, overlooking Piazza Carignano and the Church of San Filippo.
Also not to be missed is the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GAM) located in the central via Magenta, which offers an enviable collection of futurist painters as well as artists of the caliber of Renoir and Chagal.
Moving instead to Corso Unità D’Italia we find another important museum: the Turin Automobile Museum is considered one of the 50 most important museums in the world, which traces the world history of this means of locomotion, obviously with insights into the history of FIAT.
Another important museum in the city is the MAO, Museum of Oriental Art which remains in the northern part of the historic center, not far from the museum of the Shroud and Porta Palazzo.
The esoteric Turin
In addition to being a city rich in history and monuments, Turin is considered a place where magical and esoteric forces are concentrated. According to some theories, it would form a trine with Lyon and Prague for white magic and with London and San Francisco for black magic. Hidden among its buildings there are also various architectural elements, rose windows, masks, statues of dragons, dogs and symbolic figures that would have a double esoteric value. They would be both positive and negative symbols depending on the elements with which they are related. Finally, Turin would arise at the meeting point of different synchronic lines of energy. These would cross the planet, crossing at various points to form a lattice.
Other areas of Turin are considered rich in magical energies. For example, the area near the Po – Eridano where the Great Mother of God stands, which is believed to have been built on an ancient Egyptian temple, would be affected by a powerful positive force. Another point characterized by positive energy would be the Royal Square and Gardens where the Tritons and Nereids fountains are located. Piazza Statuto instead of the war memorial for the Frejus tunnel and the obelisk dedicated to G. B. Beccaria would be characterized by negative energy, perhaps also because in the past it was the place where executions took place and a necropolis was found in the basement.
It is possible to visit these and other places that distinguish magical Turin thanks to a tour that allows visitors to rediscover the esoteric symbols scattered around the city and illustrates the mysteries that still distinguish this place today.
Events and festivals
And if you like the “warm atmosphere”, very famous are those of the Christmas markets in Turin, which generally run from the beginning of December until the eve of Christmas day. In the same period, the “Una Mole di Panettoni” event takes place.
For fans of markets, we point out the two classic events of the city: every Saturday the flea market in Turin takes place, the Balon del Sabato in Porta Palazzo, with dozens of stalls scattered along the streets of the Borgo Dora district, while every second Sunday of the month takes place the Gran Balon, specialized in antiques.
In the spring, in May, the eyes of the publishing world focus on Lingotto Fiere: the Turin Book Fair takes place here, an international event that has taken place continuously since the 1970s. Also at the Lingotto, in September, the event takes place: Salone del Gusto.
How to get to Turin
The city is served by the “Sandro Pertini” international airport located in Caselle Torinese, about sixteen kilometers from the city. The connections between the city center and the airport are guaranteed by a bus service that stops at the main stations and takes about 40 minutes for a cost of about 6 euros.
Turin is also well served by the railway line as it is a major national and international airport. The main city stations are those of Porta Nuova, Porta Susa from which several convoys leave for France and Spain, and Lingotto from which regional and interregional medium-distance trains depart. The Dora station connects the city to the airport with a train every 30 minutes.
Turin is also easily accessible by car. A dense network of roads connects it to the main Italian and European cities. The main roads are the A21 Turin-Piacenza; the A4 Turin-Milan the A6 Turin-Savona; the A32 Turin-Frejus (France); and the A5 Turin-Ivrea.
Climate and when to go
The climate of Turin is mainly continental with strong temperature variations, both daily and annual. Winters are generally cold and dry, while in the autumn months the high humidity causes frequent fog banks. Summer is generally quite hot and humid. As for the temperature trend, the average annual values range between eleven and thirteen degrees centigrade, on average with the typical values of the Po Valley. The best time to go is between April and June, and the months of September and October.
