Turin – Italy’s Magic City – is a great place to experience another facet of Italy’s glorious history. It was renowned world-wide as an industrial city for years and years, until it was redesigned completely for 2006 olympics, as a result of which it is now included as one of the most pleasant cities to visit in Italy. Though it is noted majorly for museums, it is not the only thing the place is known for; here you will have the pleasure of looking at some of the best marvels from the past centuries. From royal residences, churches and squares, the city makes for a great stop on your italian road trip.
In Turin, you can spend 2 or 3 days, but if you have just 24 hours, even a day will be enough. Just follow this simple itinerary for a memorable day in the city. If you have a rental car, well and good, if not, you can reach Turin from other Italian cities via train. On reaching Turin, you can get a rental car for moving about in the city. Almost, all car hire companies offer one day rental deals, so getting a car hire for 24 hours will not be a problem.
Kick start your day at Piazza Castello
When you reach Turin, the first place you should visit is the Turin’s city square – Piazza Castello and with all the historic monuments surrounding it, palaces, theatres & cafes, you will be fresh enough to explore all of it with full energy. There are also a lot of cafes and restaurants scattered here and there, pick one, have something to eat or have a cafe before starting the tour of Piazza Castello.
It is a must visit, the place where all the popular attractions like the Palazzo Reale and palazzo Madama are located. Italian ice cream and refreshing jet fountains make it a rage among the tourists during summers. Do visit the First World War memorial, it is located on the other side of the Piazza Castello near the towers of the Palazzo Madama.
Palazzo Madama is known for its atypical design and architecture. In the ancient times, it was a castle and today it is a museum, home to Turin City Museum of Ancient Art, where you get to see a good collection of drawings and sculptures. Do visit the top of the towers for the stunning panoramic views of the city.
Next, head towards Palazzo Reale
After exploring Piazza Castello, it is time to visit Palazzo Reale, the Royal Palace of Turin which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. This marvellous historical place was built in 1646 and was used as a royal residence until 1865. Its main entrance is on Piazza Castello, so you will not have to go far to enjoy this marvel. Here is a small list of places that you must visit to get the gist of what this place means in the history of the city.
- Make sure you visit the king’s apartments & witness with your own eyes the luxurious lives the kings used to have; don’t miss it, it is one of the highlights.
- If you are an ardent reader, the palace has a library, called the Royal Library which we are sure you will love to explore. The library is said to have 200,000 books, a collection which is home to masterpieces like the Codex on the Flight of Birds by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Other places that you should visit at the Palace are the Royal Armory, the Royal gardens and the galleria Sabauda which is home to numerous paintings made in the time frame 14th to 19th century.
Head towards Mole Antonelliana
Not many people know that Turin is the birthplace of Italian cinema, which is the major reason that Mole Antonelliana – the cinema museum is part of this itinerary. Even if you are not a cinema lover, a visit to the museum will add a lot of meaning to your one day Turin trip. However, there is one more reason why so many people visit it – its elevator with transparent walls that take you to the top of the museum where you can take in the 360 degree views of the city.
This museum has great displays and during your time here, you will be able to see all from the first camera (ever used) to the helmets that were used in the Star War movies. In its main hall, there are two screens and a seating area, where you can sit and watch the movies being played.
Time to visit another museum – Museo Egizio
Another museum in Turin which is totally worth your time is Museo Egizio or Egyptian museum. So have lunch at some cafe near Mole Antonelliana and get ready to visit Turin’s Egyptian Museum.
Second largest in the world, Museo Egizio has 4 floors which are loaded with Egyptian antiques and 3000+ artefacts. You must not miss this chance because though there is a museum where such a big collection of Egyptian artefacts and antiques is available, it is in Cairo, so make the full use of this opportunity and learn all that you can about Ancient Egypt during your visit.
In order to save time, we suggest you book the guided tour of the museum in English in advance.
Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Piazza San Carlo & Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista
By the time you are done with the Egyptian Museum, it will be late afternoon and there is no better way to spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening than visiting the Piazza San Carlo. It is one of the main city squares, built in the 16th and the 17th Centuries, the square is noted for its Baroque style architecture and is home to another must visit attraction – the twin churches of Santa Cristina and the San Carlo Borromeo located on the southern edge of the square.
The equestrian statue of Emmanuel Philibert (Duke of Savoy) is a great photo op, visit the twin churches and afterwards, under the arcades you can go shopping or visit a cafe.
After the square make your way towards Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, which is the main church of Turin. It is religiously really important because it is said to be the place where the holy shroud is kept – the very cloth which is said to have enveloped the body of Jesus Christ.
Visit Porta Palatina followed by Mercato di Porta Palazzo
Porta Palatina is Turin’s oldest monument, it used to be one of the four entrances to the city in the Roman times. This building has a central door with two entrances for pedestrians and chariot – their roots go back to the Roman times, whereas the two towers were added in the medieval times for battlements.
After Porta Palatina, visit the biggest open-air market in Turin – Mercato di Porta Palazzo. Explore its more than 1000 stalls and believe us when we say that there is no better place in Turin to sample local food. Though you can buy a lot of things here from fruits to vegetables, cheese and pans and all, it is best for food!! So have dinner here and give a befitting end to your day in Turin.
Where to spend the night in Turin?
- Blunotte Torino
- Ostello Torino
- Affittacamere Parella