Looking for a new city to add to your itinerary on your next visit to Italy? Turin has a lot to offer.
Turin is one of the more prominent cities of Italy but is relatively undiscovered by tourists. It possesses classical elegance as the first capital of the republic of Italy, yet it also embodies the progressive and modern aspects of Italian culture. This dichotomy keeps Turin vibrant.
The business climate in the Piemonte region of northern Italy is good and continues to bring an influx of people to Turin. International businesses continue to occupy a position in the area and bring opportunities in tow. These regional dynamics coupled with the relative affordability and geographic accessibility of Turin have produced a modern city that is full of life.
Given its proximity to Milan, Turin is easy to get to. The local bus and train options from Milan-area airports make it especially easy to access from outside of Italy. There are fast trains within Italy to larger cities like Rome, which makes it quite manageable to see Turin by train on a visit to Italy.
Wandering around the city is one of the best ways to get to know the local culture. The lovely River Po bisects the city and provides a pleasant backdrop for a stroll. Wandering along the pedestrian area on the stylish Via Garibaldi affords the opportunity to enjoy historic sites like the Royal Palace of Turin in the city center, visit trendy shops, or take an impromptu break in the day and enjoy an espresso.
Turin’s cultural attractions are top-notch. The Teatro Regio offers a wonderful set of opera and dance productions. This season they offered Best of Italian opera series including Norma, La bohème, The Barber of Seville, and La traviata.
You may not be aware that Turin is the seat of the Egyptian Museum , housing one of the larger collections of Egyptian antiquities with more than 30,000 artifacts. The exhibit is well-organized by era, with a span from the 4th century BC to the Coptic period (3rd and 4th centuries AD), and contains well-preserved artifacts from many of the significant dynasties. If ancient cultures are of interest, this will be a highlight of your visit to the city.
The National Cinema Museum is also quite intriguing. It is located within the unusual and striking Mole Antonelliana building, known for its distinctive tower that dominates the landscape of the city center. The sheer volume of film memorabilia is impressive and it’s all extremely well presented. The view of the city from the top of the tower is panoramic and gives a sense of the density of the city center compared to the sprawling spaces surrounding that core.
If you’re ecologically oriented, it’s worth noting that Turn has a marked “green” consciousness. There are lovely parks near the river and scattered about the city as well as widely available vegetarian and even vegan food options, something you don’t always encounter on your travels around Italy.
One of the food trends that is alive in Turin is the “apericena”, a self-service mix of gourmet appetizers and drinks that spills over to dinner hour; it is available at several hip bistros around town. The food is excellent, the ambience is vibrant and upbeat, and the prices are quite reasonable!
Whether you decide to visit Turin for a few hours on the way to other destinations or stay for a few days and take in the sights, you will find many splendid ways to immerse yourself in the best of the Italian culture.
Donate