Metropolitan city of Turin Travel Guide, Piedmont, Italy

The Metropolitan City of Turin is a metropolitan city in the Piedmont region, Italy. Its capital is the city of Turin. It replaced the Province of Turin and comprises the city of Turin and 315 other municipalities (comuni). Turin is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is mainly on the western bank of the Po River, below its Susa Valley, and is surrounded by the western Alpine arch and Superga Hill.

Turin is sometimes called “the cradle of Italian liberty”. The city used to be a major European political centre. From 1563, it was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy, then of the Kingdom of Sardinia ruled by the House of Savoy, and the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865. After World War II, Turin became a major European crossroad for industry, commerce and trade, and is part of the famous “industrial triangle” along with Milan and Genoa.

The city has a rich culture and history, being known for its numerous art galleries, restaurants, churches, palaces, opera houses, piazzas, parks, gardens, theatres, libraries, museums and other venues. Turin is well known for its Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau architecture. Many of Turin’s public squares, castles, gardens and elegant palazzi such as the Palazzo Madama, were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. A part of the historical center of Turin was inscribed in the World Heritage List under the name Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. In addition, the city is home to museums such as the Museo Egizio and the Mole Antonelliana which in turn hosts the Museo Nazionale del Cinema.

The Metropolitan
The territory consists of a mountainous area to the west and north along the border with France and with the Valle d’Aosta, and part flat or hilly in the south and east. The mountainous part is home to part of the Hautes Alpes, the Graian Alps and, in a much lesser extent, in the Pennine Alps. The highest point in the Metropolitan City of Turin is the Roc (4,026 m), located in the Gran Paradiso massif on the border with Valle d’Aosta. Several wildlife reserves are located in the province, including the Sacro Monte Natural Reserve in Belmonte and the Gran Paradiso National Park. The Residences of the House of Savoy, located in Turin and several other towns in the province, as well as the Sacro Monte of Belmonte are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

From the watershed to the French border, the valleys are aligned almost from west to east, and for their entire length they fall within the provincial territory, except for some strips of elevated territories near the current state border ceded to France after the Treaty of Paris between the Italy and the allied powers in 1947 (Valle Stretta and Colle del Moncenisio are the most important parts sold).

It is mainly crossed by the Po river and many of its left tributaries. The Po, which originates in the province of Cuneo, enters the metropolitan city of Turin coming from the south and goes up to Turin. After passing the capital, it begins to flow towards the east and heads towards the province of Vercelli. Among the tributaries on the left, the Pellice (and its tributary the Chisone), the Chisola, the Sangone, the Dora Riparia, the Stura di Lanzo, the Malone, the Orco, the Dora Baltea and the Angrogna. The only tributaries to the right are the Tepice, the Banna and the Rio di Valle Maggiore.

Popular destinations
Two of the best known monuments in the metropolitan city are the Mole Antonelliana, symbol of the city of Turin, and the Sacra di San Michele, symbol of Piedmont. In the cultural heritage of the metro cities of Turin Province are several sites on the World Heritage Site of ‘ UNESCO: the Sacro Monte di Belmonte, the Orco Valley, including the cultural heritage of the Sacred Mountains; most of the Savoy residences in Piedmont, including the Reggia di Venaria Reale, the Castello di Agliè, the Castello di Rivoli, theMoncalieri Castle and in Turin the Royal Palace, Palazzo Madama and Casaforte degli Acaja, Palazzo Carignano, Castello del Valentino and Villa della Regina; the pile – dwelling settlement of Azeglio, included in the heritage of the 111 Ancient settlements in the Alps; the modern architecture of Ivrea “industrial city of the twentieth century”.

The Abbey of Novalesa, in the Alps of the Susa Valley and at the foot of the Mont Cenis, is owned by the Metropolitan City of Turin, originally founded in 726 AD. and after ups and downs suppressed in the mid-19th century. Acquired to the provincial heritage in 1972, since 1973 it has once again hosted the Benedictine monks. Several archaeological and restoration campaigns have made it possible to deepen the history of the complex, also recovering ancient frescoes such as the cycles of Sant’Eldrado and San Nicola di Bari in the chapel of Sant’Eldrado. The finds are now housed in the Archaeological Museum of the Abbey, while the antique furnishings are divided between the Civic Museum of Ancient Art of Turin (Palazzo Madama), the parish church of Santo Stefano di Novalesa, the parish church of Sant’Ippolito di Bardonecchia.

Alta Val Susa and Chisone
Bardonecchia, Cesana-Sansicario, Clavière, Pragelato, Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere… winter resorts protagonists of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, constitute the main tourist area in the province of Turin. Vast ski areas offer exceptional hospitality, activities, services and events for winter and summer sports enthusiasts.

Gran Paradiso
About half of the territory, which includes the Orco and Soana valleys crossed by the streams of the same name and extends in the eastern part of the Graian Alps, is part of the Gran Paradiso National Park, the first in Italy. The two valleys fork at Pont Canavese, the most important center together with Cuorgnè, and climbing towards the highest peaks in the province of Turin they cross lush woods, pastures, pastures and numerous characteristic mountain resorts such as Ceresole Reale and Ronco Canavese.

Ivrea and Canavese
Surrounded by rolling hills and green valleys such as Valchiusella, Canavese is a splendid corner of Piedmont that contains an infinite number of naturalistic, historical and artistic treasures, including castles, towers and ancient churches. The nerve center is the city of Ivrea, the Roman Eporedia, surrounded by a moraine amphitheater among the best known in Europe, formed during the great glaciations: the retreat of the Balteo glacier gave rise to the moraine cordon of the Serra d’Ivrea which extends for 25 km and the numerous water basins such as the five lakes of Ivrea and those of Candia Canavese and Viverone.

The Hills of The Po
The Po River flows throughout the area alongside the rolling hills creating a landscape of great charm. Leaving your gaze wandering you can admire camp i and wooded areas that alternate with splendid green meadows, the river and the hill that in some points seem to almost touch. The hills of the Po are a combination of a river area of high environmental quality and reliefs rich in elements of historical value. Natural reserves such as the Bosco del Vaj and the Po river park merge with the castles, the abbeys, the archaeological excavations of the Roman city of Industria.

Pinerolo and Waldensian Valleys
A vast and very varied tourist area that extends from the plain where the important commercial and tourist center of Pinerolo is located to the mountains, branching out over three valleys, Val Pellice, Val Germanasca and Val Chisone. Territory strongly characterized according to the area: Pinerolo known for its cavalry, the center of Torre Pellice for the Waldensian culture and the mountain area for the attraction of nature and sport combined with forts, castles, events and demonstrations.

Val Susa and Sangone
Val Susa has always been the transit route connecting the plain with the Alpine passes for France. There are important centers such as Avigliana known for its lakes and Susa, the latter also called the “key of Italy” for its strategic position giving its name to the whole surrounding area. It is a geographically varied territory crossed by the famous Via Francigena, where history, architecture, spirituality, nature and small villages are the attractions for many tourists. To the north it borders the Val Sangone, an alpine valley known above all for the woods rich in porcini mushrooms and for the roads particularly suitable for bikers. A rich gastronomy with some typical products such as Cevrin cheese and small red fruits as well as the beauty of frescoed churches, noble palaces and the possibility of beautiful walks, make the valley interesting for tourists.

Turin Metropolis
The Torino Metropoli area includes the urban space of the city of Turin with its surroundings delimited by what, historically, is defined as the Crown of Delights, the ring formed by the Royal Residences located outside the city declared Unesco Heritage in 1997. The most important attraction is the city of Turin with its rich cultural offer: museums, sites and monuments, contemporary art, major events, industrial tourism and the Royal Residences located in the city center and in the metropolitan area, as well as the ‘ gastronomic offer that the decree one of the capitals of taste. Among the municipalities that are part of the area, we highlight Moncalieri with its majestic royal castle, Rivoli seat of the contemporary art museum inside its castle and Settimo Torinese, home of shopping with the Torino Outlet Village.

Valleys of Lanzo, Ceronda and Casternone
The Lanzo Valleys (Val Grande, Val d’Ala and Val di Viù), Ceronda and Casternone, the historic home of Turin mountaineering, have given birth to entire generations of great alpine guides. Located a few tens of kilometers from Turin, they are among the places in the western alpine world that have most resisted the attack of modernization and here the mountain has kept its rugged and wild charm unaltered. The town of Lanzo Torinese, the starting point for the three valleys, offers all the necessary services.

Historical heritage
The whole territory is dotted with magnificent palaces, enchanting castles, imposing fortresses. The Royal Residences of Turin and Piedmont, UNESCO World Heritage: maisons de plaisance and sumptuous gardens, theater of the refined court life and testimony of the power of the House of Savoy. On a journey through the centuries you will be able to visit fairytale scenery and an extraordinary cultural heritage, an unforgettable experience to live with the family, as a couple or with friends for a day like a king.

In addition to the Royal Residences, the ancient ruling dynasties have in fact left a legacy of inestimable value such as the Castle of Pralormo, a must for flower lovers during the “Messer Tulipano” event; the Castle of Masino, FAI heritage and setting for the famous “Three days for the garden”; the Castle of Ivrea, a fourteenth-century defensive structure commissioned by Amedeo VI of Savoy; the Castello di Rivara, seat of the Center of Contemporary Art; the Malgrà Castle in Rivarolo Canavese; the Cavour di Santena Castle, residence and burial place of Count Camillo Benso; the Miradolo Castlein San Secondo di Pinerolo with its extraordinary exhibitions and many more…

Over the centuries the subalpine area has also been the subject of intense fortification activity. The Fort of Exilles in Val Susa, built in 1155 to control the border, boasts the mysterious Iron Mask among its most famous prisoners. In Bardonecchia there is the Forte Bramafam, an example of military construction from the late nineteenth century. In Val Chisone there is the Fenestrelle Fort, the largest brick building after the Chinese Wall.

Savoy Royal Residences
The Savoy Royal Residences of Piedmont await you with a full calendar of events dedicated to the five senses. Curious and unprecedented thematic visits to live a unique experience in timeless places, where sumptuous architecture, historic rooms and royal gardens become real open books on which to refine one’s perceptions. Also discover the special tours that some Royal Residences offer this year on the occasion of the International Year of Plant Health declared by the UN.

The Venaria Reale
Built in the mid-seventeenth century as a hunting lodge for Carlo Emanuele II, its conception was entrusted to Amedeo di Castellamonte, who made the central Salone di Diana an ideal junction between palace and gardens. Vittorio Amedeo II first called Michelangelo Garove and then Filippo Juvarra to work there, who built some of his masterpieces: the Galleria Grande, the Chapel of Sant’Uberto and the complex consisting of the Scuderia Grande and the Citroniera; later Benedetto Alfieri built the Rondò with the statues of the Seasons. The Royal Palace is considered a masterpiece of architecture and landscape, and boasts some of the highest expressions of universal baroque. In 1997 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Hunting House
A visit focused on the sense of sight that will culminate in the central hall with a life drawing session. An unmissable opportunity to actively get to know the building.

Palazzo Carignano
The guided tour focuses on the transformations of the gardens of Palazzo Carignano. The space once dedicated to the moment of pleasure of the mind, body, smell, touch and sight, has been sacrificed in recent times to allow the Palazzo to be doubled. Thanks also to the support of images, the visitor will be able to learn about the history of the Palace and the changes the building has undergone over time, retracing the various stages of change with the “eyes of the imagination”.

Castle and Park of Racconigi
From the time of Carlo Alberto to the fall of the monarchy, the Savoy royal family spent their holidays in this imposing castle, built by the architect Guarino Guarini for the princes of Carignano. The majestic park that surrounds it, the work of the garden architect Xavier Kurten, is one of the most significant examples in Europe of the sensitivity towards nature and the landscape typical of Romanticism. Visiting the Racconigi Castle today means not only reliving the splendor of the House of Savoy, admiring the original furnishings and the splendid collection of portraits, but also strolling among greenhouses and farmhouses and sighting the storks that nest in the park, an oasis of great naturalistic interest.

Castle of the Francesetti Counts
Built in the 17th century on an existing residence, the Borgo, purchased by the Francesetti Counts, in the 19th century, was transformed into a noble seat. Thus, in the mid-nineteenth century, it becomes the main nucleus of the Municipality of Mezzenile: it is the place from which the patronal feast of the town starts and the place where you can meet illustrious people, such as accounts, lawyers, doctors who came to visit from the City of Turin. the Count and his family. The architectural complex is made up of different and distinct buildings that performed not only the residential function but also that linked to the economic and social activity of the family: the turreted Palazzo or Castle; The guesthouse; The stable and the stables; The house of the farmers; The oven; The noble chapel.

Castle of Foglizzo
Probably of late Roman origin, in the Middle Ages it was characterized as a place of defense and refuge thanks to its dominant position over the town and the plain. It was inhabited by the Biandrate di San Giorgio Counts, who over the centuries continued to modify it according to the changed needs. The splendid wooden coffered ceilings and frescoes on the noble floor date back to the sixteenth century. Having lost its defensive purpose, in the 18th century the castle was transformed into a stately home by eliminating battlements and a drawbridge. Tradition has it that a tunnel connects it to the Castle of San Giorgio Canavese.

Castle of Slaughter
With its typically medieval structure it emerges from the greenery of a magnificent centuries-old park enclosed in the ancient walls. Built in the 14th century by Filippo di Savoia-Acaja as a defensive fortress, it passed in 1396 to Filippo Solaro, who became Count of Macello and passed on the fief to his descendants. The castle is revealed with its square keep and four smaller towers. Beyond the traces of the ancient moat and the drawbridge, you enter the courtyard and the interior rooms, where you can admire fine terracotta decorations and frescoed ceilings.

Castle of Mazzè
The castle, built on the remains of an ancient Roman fortress, has undergone changes and additions over the centuries, the most important of which were made in the nineteenth century by the architect. There are three routes: the Great Castle, the Underground Museum of Torture, the Oasi del Bosco Park.

Castle of Miradolo
The Castle, already mentioned in documents of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and renovated in 1866 according to a neo-Gothic style, is now the seat of temporary exhibitions, concerts, shows, educational and training activities. Headquarters of the Cosso Foundation, the Miradolo Castle and its historic park are located next to the Pinerolo hills from where you can enjoy a suggestive view of the Monviso. The ancient residence consists of a noble part and a rustic area, which between the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century took on a conformation very similar to the current one.

A wonderful historical parkof over six hectares surrounds the Castle and develops around a large central lawn overlooked by groves and loops of luxuriant vegetation. The original project dates back to the eighteenth century but it was in the following century that the boundaries of the park expanded and the structure was redefined, according to the romantic taste. In the same period a beautiful Citroniera with neo-Gothic decorations was built. In the garden there are now exotic tree species, majestic and centenary specimens, as well as a forest of giant bamboo, camellias, magnolias, roses and a collection of historic hydrangeas.

Religious heritage
The rich religious tradition of Turin and its province have always made it a privileged pilgrimage destination on the trail of the Social Saints or to discover the rich artistic heritage represented by the churches, everyone will be able to grasp the most intimate aspect and respond to the discreet spiritual appeal of the Turin area. It will be enough to visit the Sacro Monte di Belmonte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, to realize how much art and nature enrich the paths of spirituality. And it cannot be forgotten how the province of Turin is a meeting place for different faiths and traditions: since the 12th century the Waldensian Community has lived in the Pellice, Chisone and Germanasca Valleys while the Jewish Community has been present in Turin since 1424.

Basilica di Superga
In 1706, during the Franco-Spanish siege, the Duke of Savoy Vittorio Amedeo II went up to Superga to observe the advance of the enemies. Here he promised that, in case of victory, he would have a votive monument built. The work, entrusted to Juvarra, led to the creation on the crest of the hill of the basilica, an architectural jewel of the Baroque ideally connected to the Castello di Rivoli on the directrix of the road to France. In the basement the church houses the tombs of the Savoy dynasty, which can still be visited today, and is flanked by the eighteenth-century convent. Famous is the splendid viewpoint overlooking the city and the Alps, a panorama that Rousseau defined as “the most beautiful sight that can strike the human eye”.

Cultural heritage
Turin affirms itself as a center of European and international culture through an exceptional variety of styles, forms and languages which, from time to time, tell the city of monuments, palaces, churches, spirituality, events, music, galleries, cinema, literature… From the Royal Palace to the Sanctuary of the Consolata, from the Teatro Regio to the National Cinema Museum, the cultural itineraries are truly unlimited, and never predictable. But the attraction is also endless in the surroundings of the capital: (in the castle of Rivoli, whose baroque halls house the Museum of Contemporary Art); in the Canavese area, the castles of Agliè and Masino are jewels of post-Renaissance architecture, surrounded by splendid gardens; in Val Susa and Val Chisone, the centuries-old fortresses of Fenestrelle and Exilles barred the Alpine passages and again a very special itinerary is the one that connects abbeys, monasteries and sacred mountains.

Related Post

The Essential Baroque
Figurative arts, architecture, Sacred Mountains, music, gardens, and food and wine are the pieces of a fairytale journey through signs and styles that between 1680 and 1750 have left evidence of great beauty. A heritage that, in 2020, is revealed to visitors and residents through large exhibitions, concert reviews, guided tours, workshops, cultural moments and extraordinary openings. Over 200 appointments in Turin and throughout Piedmont that make up the plot of ” The essential is Baroque “, a project of the Piedmont Region, created by VisitPiemonte and enriched thanks to the contribution of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, a corpus of cultural initiatives proposed by entities of the city and metropolitan area.

The program is also carried out with the collaboration of the City of Turin, the Consortium of the Royal Residences of Savoy and the Reggia di Venaria, with the support of the FAI – Delegation of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, of the Turin Museums Foundation and of the Association of Museums and the involvement of associations, cultural bodies, public and private entities spread throughout the territory including: the ATL-Local Tourist Agencies, and the Federagit and GIA Tourist Guides Associations, the Archaeological Superintendence of Fine Arts and Landscape, Museum bodies and foundations, musical associations, the regional commission for the artistic and cultural heritage of the diocese, trade associations: hoteliers, traders, exhibitors, industrialists: a truly widespread and participatory project throughout the region.

Museums
A rich program of artistic, musical, cultural and food and wine events as well as suggestive itineraries that connect abbeys, monasteries and sacred mountains, without forgetting the rich heritage of castles and palaces that crown our territory. Imagining a path that satisfies the sight, the spirit and the palate is not difficult: from the center of the subalpine city, which embodies the two thousand year history of Turin, to the strategic passages of the Alpine passes manned by imposing forts, passing history and curiosity, each visitor will find what is best suited to their needs. Music and cinema festivals, art and taste fairs. Turin and its surroundings are unique, but their charm has a thousand variations.

Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum of Turin (properly the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities) is, like that of Cairo, dedicated exclusively to the art and culture of ancient Egypt. It houses a set of collections that have overlapped over time, to which we must add the findings made following the excavations conducted by the Italian Archaeological Mission between 1900 and 1935. At that time the criterion according to which the archaeological finds were distributed between Egypt and the archaeological missions, while the current one foresees that they remain in the country of origin.

Village and Medieval Rock
Built on the occasion of the Italian General Exhibition of 1884, the complex reproduces buildings and furnishings from the 15th century, typical of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. A deeply suggestive path, with its Piedmontese and Aosta Valley buildings and a center animated by artisan shops: that of wrought iron, that of jewels and artistic objects, the printing house. The Borgo is dominated by the Rocca, the fortified stately home with sumptuous rooms, which paints a cross-section of daily life in a fifteenth-century Savoyard castle.

Castle of Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art
Born in the 11th century as a military stronghold, Castello di Rivoli is now home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which presents a prestigious collection and large temporary exhibitions in an original historical-architectural context. Property of the Savoy since 1247, the castle was the first seat of the court of the Savoy duchy and in the 1600s it was transformed into a noble residence by Carlo and Amedeo di Castellamonte. The complex is also enriched by the Manica Lunga, a ducal art gallery of over 140 meters. In the eighteenth century Vittorio Amedeo II entrusted Juvarra with the task of a grandiose rebuilding project that will never be completed. The incompleteness of the building, underlined by the restoration by Andrea Bruno in the 1980s, creates an evocative line of continuity between past, present and future.

The collection of Francesco Federico Cerruti, kept and hidden in a villa in Rivoli near the Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art, represents a unicum in the history of Italian private collecting for its vastness and importance and makes the Turin entrepreneur, of Genoese origins, one of the most important European collectors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In the villa of Rivoli, Cerruti has collected very rare works, conserving them with care.

Gam Torino – Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
The GAM was the first museum in Italy to promote a public collection of modern art within it. The core of the collection dates back to 1863, when the Savoy family gave Turin a civic museum. Arranged along a path that winds along the four floors of the museum, the collections and exhibitions surprise visitors with their richness. The tour begins on the second floor, where nineteenth-century paintings and sculptures are exhibited. The first floor houses the works of the twentieth century, starting with Divisionism, Futurism and Abstractionism to reach Pop Art and Arte Povera, chronologically aligning works by great Italian and foreign masters, such as Balla, Severini, Boccioni, De Chirico, Dix, Ernst, Klee.

Juventus Museum
The Juventus Museum was inaugurated on May 16, 2012; created by a group of companies coordinated by the Turin architect Benedetto Camerana, it was conceived according to the most modern standards, favoring the technological and interactive aspect, without completely disavowing the classic museum setting, intended as an exhibition of objects of value and historical-cultural interest. The Company wanted to give life to a creature with a double soul: modern, multimedia, interactive on the one hand; traditional and classic on the other. Thanks to the use of new technologies, the Juventus Museum provides a sports and sociological picture through the history of Sport.

Inside it tells and documents the history of Juventus and of city and national football, as well as the history of Turin and Italy, with an overview of the most significant events that have occurred in the world since the end of the 19th century. The Juventus Museum covers an area of 1,500 square meters and is entirely bilingual, with the possibility of autonomous use of the various multimedia contents.

Contessa Adelaide Castle – Civic Museum
The castle, which bears traces of the works carried out in subsequent eras, houses a civic museum with an innovative layout that narrates the crucial role that the Alpine passes and the Valsusine area have played in the millennial historical journey of the Savoy. In the castle two paths intertwine, the archaeological one and the museum one. The archaeological itinerary starts from the Roman Praetorium, on whose remains the castrum and then the medieval castle and the “Savoyard palace” were erected. The visitor is led on a journey through images in the history of the Castle and of the whole city of Susa. The museum exhibition also has a naturalistic vocation, it houses the most recent collections of the Civic Museum and in the “wunderkammer” it leads us to an atmosphere of the late nineteenth century.

Food and Wine
Discover our passion for taste and conviviality. Turin and its province offer you a flavor for every moment of the day and for every occasion… tradition and innovation are the key words to embark on a journey into the heart of our territory.

Itineraries Route of the Alpine Vineyards
Once upon a time… a long time ago, before the administrative borders between nations and regions determined individual territories, in which the Turin, Valle d’Aosta and Savoyard mountains were deeply connected. On both sides of the Alps, vines were grown, often clinging to steep slopes; the vines selected and adapted to these environmental conditions were exchanged, following the flow of merchants and travelers.

The common history of the winemakers, the singular and precious landscape of the vineyards leaning against the slopes become today the starting points for exploring the three regions with a new look, which already offer the visitor many cultural, naturalistic and sporting attractions. Discover new wine tourism routes on both sides of the Western Alps; follow thematic itineraries letting yourself be accompanied, by bike, on foot, with your car on board a mini-bus… in search of the peculiarities of the territories from an enological, gastronomic, geographical, historical and cultural point of view.

The Piedmontese via Francigena
An itinerary of history, a main road traveled in the past by thousands of faithful who from Europe went on pilgrimage to Rome, the heart of Christianity. Today, the Francigena itineraries in Piedmont are suggestive paths of faith but also paths suitable for everyone and excellent excuses for tantalizing tastings.

Shopping
The long arcaded path created for the walks of the Savoy in the historic center of the city has now become a real shopping itinerary: via Roma and the parallel via Lagrange and Carlo Alberto host the windows of the great names of Italian and international fashion, where to find the best of elegance according to the latest fashion trends or remaining faithful to the Turin tradition of historical brands, ateliers and tailors.

The scenic Galleria Subalpina, in Art Nouveau style, opens onto Piazza Castello, whose arcades invite you to continue along via Po, among stalls of used books and records, antique dealers and period bookstores. On the other hand, for a very pleasant walk, take one of the longest pedestrian paths in Europe: via Garibaldi that crosses the streets of the Roman Quadrilateral, overlooked by small artisans, historic or avant-garde shops, in an alternative route to that of the brands. And for those who love multi-ethnic and colorful atmospheres, it should not be forgotten that each district of Turin has its own market: Porta Palazzo stands out above all, a true multiethnic heart of the city both for the people who animate it and for the goods on display. The historic Balôn flea market also takes place nearby.

Nightlife
At night Turin changes its face, it loves to have fun and entertain its guests. What better way to find out than to live it to the fullest? Already from the aperitif the streets light up and the clubs, wineries, restaurants and clubs that offer jazz music or a trendy DJ set come to life. And then off with classical music, theater and opera for the most refined palates, shows, concerts, cabaret, literary cafes, square parties, dance, white nights… there is something for all tastes.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Borgo Dora and the Quadrilatero Romano – the real historical center – host many meeting places: here art, food and design make the environment even more sparkling, listen to live music, chat, watch artistic performances, yes dance until dawn. Also of irresistible charm is San Salvario, a multi-ethnic neighborhood between the Porta Nuova railway station and the Valentino Park, at the center of an important urban redevelopment project. Just the Valentino Parkit is also a meeting point, with its embarkations along the Po that have become places with a great atmosphere or clubs for night owls looking for a very “fashion” frequentation. The city center – Via Po, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Mazzini, Corso Matteotti – is rich and lively: after the cinema, the theater or the dinner, numerous beer houses, cremerie and bars welcome all those looking for fun. Finally, along the streets of the hill, there are the largest and most famous nightclubs in the city.

The Teatro Regio, where Giacomo Puccini, in 1896, triumphed with the “Bohème” directed by Arturo Toscanini; the Lingotto Auditorium, the best for sound quality; the RAI Auditorium, built in the late 1800s and home to the RAI National Symphony Orchestra; the Carignano Theater, a baroque jewel where the first tragedies of Vittorio Alfieri were performed. The offer is enriched with the reopening of the OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni, one of the most important examples of industrial architecture of the 19th century, the only European example of industrial reconversion, where you can attend concerts, shows, events, exhibitions.

Natural heritage

Protected areas
List of protected natural areas in the metropolitan city of Turin:

National Parks
Gran Paradiso National Park

Regional parks
Natural Park of the Avigliana Lakes
Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park
Natural Park of the Collina di Superga
Val Troncea Natural Park
Stupinigi Natural Park
Orsiera-Rocciavrè Natural Park
La Mandria Regional Park and the Devil’s Bridge Park in Lanzo Torinese
Po River Park: Po Torinese Park and Po Vercellese / Alessandrino Park

Regional reserves
Natural reserve of the Madonna della Neve on Monte Lera
Vauda Nature Reserve
Bosco del Vaj nature reserve
Special natural reserve of the Sacro Monte di Belmonte
Orrido di Chianocco nature reserve
Natural Reserve of the Pelati Mountains
Orrido di Foresto nature reserve

Provincial parks
Natural Park of Lake Candia
Monte San Giorgio Natural Park
Monte Tre Denti Natural Park – Freidour
Conca Cialancia Natural Park
Colle del Lys Natural Park
Natural Park of the Rocca di Cavour
Natural Park of the Five Lakes of the Serra morenica di Ivrea
Barant Oasis and Peyronel Botanical Garden

Environment
For its green purchases, the metropolitan city was placed in third place in the European Gpp Award in 2016, behind the cities of Vienna and Turin. During the same year, Corona Verde, a project for the green network of the Turin metropolitan area, received the La Città per il Verde award in the “VerdeUrbano” section.

In the field of hiking, the metropolitan city of Turin is the leading body of the transnational project of the Alpine Vineyard Road.

Outdoor activities
If you are an outdoor sports enthusiast, you cannot miss the opportunities offered by the province of Turin. Excursions, trekking, bicycle, road and mountain bike itineraries: the Turin Alps are waiting for you to experience unforgettable moments in contact with the territory.

Outing and Camping
The desire to leave, the desire to go out, the desire to walk, the desire for summer, the desire to breathe fresh air, the desire to taste (in every sense) a region with a thousand surprises. Turin can also be experienced in the open air along the Po river, in the numerous parks, in the elegant streets of the center and in the characteristic streets of the oldest districts, in the large squares, in the museums en plein air… and even sitting in one of the many dehors of historic cafes and restaurants to savor the delicious summer specialties.

Outside the city, then, you are spoiled for choice: morainic hills with countless paths that can be traveled by all, lakes where you can practice many water sports, protected areas where not only children can widen their eyes in wonder… but above all mountains with breathtaking views, pure air, bright colors, unique flora and fauna, ideal terrain for trekking and all kinds of outdoor activities. For example, the Gran Paradiso National Park, the oldest in Italy.

Combine physical activity with nature, culture, history and food and wine of the territory, here are the four routes of the Piedmontese Via Francigena, itineraries of faith – to really understand the essence of places sometimes suspended in time: from Canavese to Val Susa, from Turin to Vercellese and the Ligurian Sea. Or the ” Crown of Delights ” of the Royal Residencesof the House of Savoy – UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 – that surround the city with their centuries-old parks and gardens, to be discovered through relaxing cycle routes…

Ski
The mountains of Turin have one of the largest ski areas in all the Alps, known throughout the world for the quality and quantity of the services offered. The Alta Val Susa and Chisone, theater of the mountain events of the Turin 2006 Olympics, offers vast and modern areas for skiing and snowboarding, such as Vialattea and Bardonecchia Ski, ideal terrain for both beginners and the more experienced. The modern facilities offer technical slopes to alpine skiers and also to cross-country skiers. Numerous snow parks offer jumps and tricks for skiers and snowboarderslovers of stunts and pure fun. Masters and alpine guides can accompany you on wonderful off-piste itineraries, between pine forests and plateaus, in complete safety. Natural mountain lovers can also practice ski mountaineering and hiking with snowshoes, on the wildest peaks, to enjoy breathtaking views. From 5 December, the Vialattea and Bardonecchiaski lifts are ready to welcome you safely for the new winter season.

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Tags: Italy