Turin
Italian: Torino
Come to Turin in Piedmont. It is worth a trip. The Piedmont capital invites you to enjoy a real Italian aperitif and taste the local chocolate delicacies. Compared to bustling Milan, Turin appears a little more moderate. Many beautiful baroque palaces and the castle garden characterize the cityscape. Turin is famous for the Fiat automobiles being designed here and for the Shroud of Jesus. Many scientists have already worked on the textile and no one can tell exactly whether it is the real Turin Shroud. On this page, we show you what to do and see in Turin.
Best Places to Visit in Turin
Climb to the Mole Antonelliana
The Mole Antonelliana is the landmark of Turin. When it was completed in 1863, the Mole Antonelliana was the highest brickwork in Europe at 167.5 meters. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the unification of Italy, a panoramic elevator was built in 1961. With this, you can climb up by lift to the temple in 85 meters to enjoy the all-round view of Turin and the Alpine belt. Inside the dome, there is a staircase that climbs to the panoramic terrace. The Mole Antonelliana was originally intended to be a synagogue. But today it houses the National Museum of Cinema, and is one of the tallest museums in the world.
The Turin Cathedral and the Holy Shroud
The Turin Cathedral is dedicated to John the Baptist. What is really special is the chapel of the Turin Shroud. Next to the Piazza Castello towers up the cathedral. The cathedral was built in the 15th century in the Renaissance style. A copy of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, painted by Luigi Gagna, is located above the central portal of the cathedral.
The Chapel of the Turin Shroud in the Cathedral
The Chapel of the Holy Shroud is at the end of the aisles on the stairs to the side of the choir. The Turin Shroud, called Sacra Sindone, was the most precious treasure of the House of Savoy. The original shroud is the linen fabric in which Jesus Christ is said to have found his final rest.
The Shroud of Turin, called Sindone, is the shroud in which Jesus is said to have been buried.
The original shroud is well protected in Turin Cathedral in a large metal casket. The perhaps real shroud is only shown to the public every 20 years and on special occasions. The last time was 2015. Many pilgrims came from all over the world to worship this relic. In 1997 a fire raged in the baroque chapel of the shroud. But the relic could be saved from destruction at the last minute.
The Original of the Turin Shroud
The Turin Shroud is a linen cloth that is 4.36 meters long and 1.10 meters wide. Human outlines are shown, as if a person has left his marks on the cloth. The facial features and the figure ascribed to Jesus Christ are clearly recognizable. Researchers and theologians have been investigating the authenticity of the Turin Shroud with various scientific methods for many decades. It has not yet been possible to provide clear proof of the authenticity, but it cannot be ruled out that Jesus was buried in the cloth from which he then rose.
History of the Shroud
The shroud appeared for the first time in the 14th century. It belonged to the House of Savoy for a long time before it was given to the Catholic Church.
The cloth is kept in Turin Cathedral at the end of the 17th century. A shroud chapel was built especially for this. The Chapel of the Holy Shroud is at the end of the aisles on the stairs to the side of the choir. The chapel was built between the cathedral and the royal palace. It can be recognized by the special dome on which there are stone urns. The dome rises over six large arched windows. Inside is the round chapel with an altar in the center. This houses the relic in a bulletproof showcase made of glass and silver. The Shroud Chapel can be visited together with the royal museums.
In 1997 a fire raged in the Shroud Chapel and the relic was saved from destruction at the last minute. In order to protect the shroud even better from environmental influences, it has been kept in a special container in a side chapel of the cathedral since 1998.
Exhibitions of the Original of the Holy Shroud of Jesus
Exhibition of the Shroud 2010
The original shroud is rarely brought to light under strict security conditions. In April / May 2010 the Holy Shroud was exhibited in a solemn procedure in Turin Cathedral. The treatment that the Holy Shroud underwent in 2002 was seen for the first time. Burns from the Chambéry fire in 1532 was removed, the sewn appliqués of the Clarisser were removed and the cloth was stretched onto a new frame.
During the public exhibition of the Shroud in Turin in 2010, 2.5 million visitors viewed the Shroud.
Exhibition of the Turin Shroud 2015
On the occasion of the 200th birthday of the order’s founder and saint Don Giovanni Bosco, the Holy Shroud, the Sindone, was exhibited to the public in 2015.
Giovanni Bosco (1815-1888) was born on August 16, 1815, in Castelnuovo Don Bosco and made a living as a priest and youth pastor and founder of the Salesian Order. Don Bosco was canonized in 1934.
A copy of the Holy Shroud can be seen at all other times. In the church of San Lorenzo and in the cathedral there are copies of the Holy Shroud of Turin, the “Sacra Sindone”.
Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)
There is no shortage of palaces in Turin. The Royal Palace is located very close to Piazza Castello at the Piazza Reale. It was the first and most important residence of the Savoy in Piedmont. This palace is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Lorenzo Church, a Baroque Jewel
You don’t have to go far for that either. The church is located directly on Piazza Castello. It was completed in 1687 and is a baroque splendor.
Relax at Piazza Castello
In the heart of Turin is Piazza Castello, the central square in front of the city castle. It is home to numerous attractions, cafes and restaurants.
Note the Beautiful Palazzo Madama
Palazzo Madama, with its baroque staircase, was the seat of the first Italian Senate. It is located directly in Piazza Castello and is part of the residence of the Savoy from the 14th century. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it houses the Museum of Ancient Art.
Admire the Ancient City Gate Porta Palatina
Porta Palatina was built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century to protect Turin to the north. The ancient city gate dates back to the Roman era. Since the brick wall was part of a prison in the 18th century, it was spared from destruction. After the Roman remains were excavated from 1860, the Roman gate Porta Palatina was reconstructed again at the beginning of the 20th century.
Cobblestone streets of an old Roman road lead to the gate, recognizable by the antique ruts that were carved into the stones by the carts.
Enjoy an Opera at the Teatro Regio
The Royal Theatre of Turin, Teatro Regio, was opened in 1740. Under the director Arturo Toscanini, the Teatro Regio experienced its greatest time at the end of the 19th century. Opera enthusiasts can book a trip with us to Turin with a performance at the Teatro Regio with two hotel nights and accompanying program. Not to be missed in the program is a typical aperitif with finger food. We also offer a guided city tour in Turin and a day trip to Barolo.
Admire the History of FIAT and their Beautiful Cars
You can visit the FIAT test track on the roof of the Lingotto factory. After the factory was closed, the site was redesigned by Renzo Piano. Today the Lingotto is a modern cultural and exhibition center with a concert hall, shopping center and an art gallery with valuable paintings donated to the city by Giovanni and Marella Agnelli.
Next to the Lingotto, in the historic Carpano vermouth factory, is the very first EATALY department store, a true paradise for gourmets and wine connoisseurs.
The MAUTO automobile museum is located near the Lingotto.
Best Things to Do in Turin
Enjoy an Opera at the Teatro Regio
The Royal Theatre of Turin, Teatro Regio, was opened in 1740. The Teatro Regio under the Arturo Toscanini experienced its greatest time at the end of the 19th century. Opera enthusiasts can book a trip with us to Turin with a performance at the Teatro Regio with two hotel nights and accompanying program. Not to be missed in the program is a typical aperitif with finger food. We also offer a guided city tour in Turin and a day trip to Barolo.
Visit the Turin Film Museum
The Turin Film Museum is one of the most important in the world, located in the Mole Antonelliana, and one of the most important film museums in the world. On an interactive travel route, the history of cinema from its beginnings to the present is presented in an upward spiral on several levels. The extraordinary collections bring the film to life.
Visit the Automobile Museum MAUTO
The Automobile Museum shows the development of the city of Turin using the example of the automobile. You’ll see Bernardi and Fiat’s first 19th-century Italian cars there, as well as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo racing cars. The MAUTO was founded in 2011 as the interactive museum and contains a rich collection of over 200 cars, chassis, and engines from over 80 different manufacturers from a total of 13 countries, tracing the history of the car from its beginnings to the present day. The MAUTO museum is just as interesting for children and laypeople as it depicts the automobile in its time in a very clear and humorous way. The former Biscaretti Museum was completely redesigned in 2007 by the renowned architect François Confino, who already designed the Turin Film Museum in the Mole Antonelliana.
Don’t miss the the Egyptian Museum
You shouldn’t miss a visit to the Egyptian Museum during your stay in Turin. You immerse yourself in the history of ancient times. The Egyptian Museum has been located in the Palazzo Collegio dei Nobili in Via Accademia delle Scienze since it was founded in 1824. The archaeologists Ernesto Schiaparelli and Giulio Farina brought over 30,000 archaeological excavations from Egypt to Turin between 1903 and 1937. This makes it the largest Egyptian museum outside of Egypt. The exciting collection shows mummies, papyrus scrolls, some of the hieroglyphs of which have been deciphered, living objects, jewelery, toys, and even food that served as grave goods.
Go for Culinary Experience
Did you know that Turin is the city of origin of chocolate and Nutella, the famous Piedmont cherry and the fresh Carmagnola mint you find in tic tac. The children’s surprise chocolate eggs started their triumphant march around the world from here.
Lovers of good wine will appreciate the Barolo, which is created from the fruity Nebiolo grape and whose growing areas are preferably located in the hilly area of the Langhe. The most famous are the villages of Alba and Asti, with their autumnal wine and truffle festivals. The popular program for groups includes guided truffle search and subsequent tasting.
Piedmont is a paradise for lovers of good cheese. Here the cheeses such as Toma, Castelmagno and the little Tomini are produced. Tomini is often prepared on the grill. Piedmont has the best white truffles. These are traded at top prices at the Truffle Fair in Alba every autumn. An insider’s tip would then be the Truffle Festival in San Sebastiano, in the southeast of the Piedmont region.
Watch a Soccer Match of Juventus or Torino
Under the title “Football Travel” we offer you good tickets for each game with 2 nights in a hotel in Turin with accompanying program.
You can find Juventus’ current schedule here on our website. With their international stars, tickets are always sold out and suitably highly sought after and expensive. Plan early and complement this city break with a nice accompanying program. There is a lot to see and experience in and around Turin.
Stroll to the Valentino Park and the Medieval Village
The Parco del Valentino extends along the river Po, a few kilometers south of Turin.>
There are some attractions like the medieval village, the Savoy Castle and the beautiful botanical garden and rock garden and the fountain of the twelve months.
Clime up to the Superga
The Superga basilica is located on the Superga hill above Turin.
The Superga basilica of the Savoy family is considered a Baroque masterpiece, the shape of the dome is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome. From the hill you can enjoy a wonderful view over Turin and, with good visibility, as far as the Alps. A plaque commemorates the Superga tragedy in which all the football players of the Grande Torino club died.
Let you Inspire in the Venaria Reale
Venaria Reale is famous as the former residence of the House of Savoy.
The Royal Palace is one of the Royal Palaces of Savoy and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The Savoy residence is one of the largest royal castles. The castle includes the town (borgo) where the domestic servants lived, the royal gardens.
