Turin

Basilica of Superga was built by the orders of Duke Vittorio Amedeo II, in the 18th century. It is infamous for being the place where the plane carrying the soccer team Toro crashed during the 1940s. Superga is located on top of the hill bordering Turin, from where you have a wonderful view of both the city and the Alps. To get there, you can take a bus, a mountain railway or a long-distance footpath, hence it is also the ideal destination for a hike during a clear day. Turin is surrounded by almost 700 km of hiking paths. The Basilica di Superga, along with the Victory Lighthouse at Colle della Maddalena, is one of the most popular destinations for hiking and trekking tours of the region.

Palazzo Reale was the residential estate of the Savoy family until 1861. Today, it hosts various galleries and museums. In the main building of the palace you can admire magnificent objects from the Baroque and Rococo periods, besides the stunning architectural structure of the estate itself. Palazzo Reale is located on Piazza Castello, one of the two main squares of the city.

Parco del Valentino is an big public park right in the city centre, next to the river Po. Colourful flower beds, a small stream with wooden bridges and monumental fountains create a peaceful oasis in the midst of the city. During spring and summer you can chill all day long and well into the evening. The stately Castello del Valentino is the focal point of the park. Within the park, you'll find Borgo Medievale — an open air museum and reconstructed medieval village and castle. Also, do check the latest exhibition in Promotrice delle Belle Arti and see what's in bloom at the Museo dell'Orto Botanico.

Piedmont is one of the richest regions in Italy when it comes to wine. In particular, a large part of the production is concentrated in the Langhe area, reachable in one hour by bus, train or car from Turin. Many and various are the tasting tours available in this region, during which you can not only try these delicious nectars, but also numerous local dishes. You can buy a package tour or book a visit with numerous cantinas yourself.

Piazza Vittorio is the main square of the city, and the biggest in Europe completely surrounded by arcades. It is located at the end of Via Po, overlooking the river and the bizarre church Gran Madre. Under its arches, the square houses restaurants, cafés and bars of all sorts, and by night it turns into one of the centres of Turin's movida. Don't miss a visit here by night, even just to admire its splendour enhanced by lights and shadows on the facades surrounding the square.

To experience direct contact with nature, visit Zoom, a few kilometres outside of Turin. This safari park is so much more than a normal zoo: you can admire different species like zebras, giraffes, rhinoceros up close, and you can even swim with penguins! Furthermore, the water park and Bolder Beach pool is an extension of the park, so you can buy a combined ticket for both attractions.

The church of Santa Maria al Monte is visible from Piazza Vittorio, especially at night, when the space-age blue neon lights illuminate it. This late-Renaissance-style church stands on the right bank of the Po, on the so-called Monte dei Cappuccini, and from its terrace you can enjoy one of the best views of both the city and the Alps.

A visit to Sacra di San Michele is the perfect trip on a clear day. This basilica is of high religious importance and got its name from the archangel Michael. The interior is majestic and the surroundings are breath-taking, as is the path to reach it. If you don't feel like a long walk, you could also get to Sacra di San Michele by train, bus or car.

The amazing Teatro Regio (Royal Theatre) was commissioned by Vittorio Amedeo II and inaugurated in 1740. It immediately became a reference in the world of opera and ballet, not least for its sophisticated design. Today, the theatre remains a touchstone for the art of opera, but you can also visit the stunning building for its architecture alone. Be sure to check out the intricate bronze Cancellata Odissea Musicale art piece at the entrance.

Opened in 2008, the Museum of Eastern Art displays the biggest collection of Asian art and crafts in Italy. It is located in the Quadrilatero neighbourhood, in the ancient Mazzoni Palace. The exhibitions here are varied and change often, taking advantage of the 2200 artefacts that represent cultural and artistic traditions of the Asian continent.

Palazzo Madama is one of the historic buildings of Piazza Castello, together with the Royal Palace. The layers of history that from this palace are extraordinary. At the beginning of the first century BC, the site of the palace was occupied by a gate in the Roman city walls. The two restored towers still testify to this original nucleus. The back of the palace looks like a medieval stronghold, while the ornate facade was added by the Savoy family to better match the overall look of the square. Today it houses the Museum of Ancient Arts, with its impressive collection of paintings.

Piazza San Carlo is one of the most important squares in Turin's history. It is located between Porta Nuova and Via Roma. During the 19th and 20th centuries it used to be the main meeting point for the elites and aristocracy, and the refinement of those days is still plain to see. In the background you can also admire the (almost-) twin churches, which can seem to be identical at first sight. Spend some time trying to spot all the differences.

Cesare Lombroso was an Italian criminologist, physician and phrenologist, who posed that crime is a characteristic trait of human nature. His role as the creator of criminal atavism remains controversial. You are invited to learn about the errors in his scientific method. In 2009, to mark the centenary of his death, the museum was revamped to better showcase the macabre collections: anatomical specimens and drawings, photographs, as well as valuable craft and artistic works created by asylum and prison inmates.

The baroque "Chapel of Merchants, Shopkeepers and Bankers" was built at the end of the 1600s. This lesser known architectural jewel still holds numerous original artworks. The most noteworthy of them is the Perpetual Calendar built by the engineering Giovanni Plana — a primitive computing machine that allows its user to look up details about any date between the years 1 and 4000. Powered by a small wooden crank, the intricate gears and chains put into motion the nine inscribed cylinders, The chapel is only open to the public on the weekends, when mass is held. If you are lucky, you can attend the occasional classical music concert and experience the building's impressive acoustics.

Pinacoteca Agnelli is an art gallery that displays art from a vast private collection. You'll find Renoir's Blonde Bather and Manet's La Négresse, as well as works by Matisse, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Canova, Picasso and Modigliani. The futuristic "crystal spaceship" pavilion is an attraction in itself. The Pinacoteca is perched on top of the Lingotto complex — the headquarters of the Italian auto giant Fiat, founded by Giovanni Agnelli. It was built as a car factory in the 1920s, and was the largest and most modern plant of its kind in Europe. A winding brutalist ramp took cars to the top of the building, where they could drive the 500 m long test track. The ramp and the test track are still in top-notch condition, but the building itself now serves a different function. While its exterior remained largely unaltered, the interior was revived to house an exhibition centre, a conference centre and auditorium, two hotels, offices and shops. The iconic ‘Bubble’ — a transparent meeting room on the roof — was also added.