Luxury hotel holidays to Turin

Cultural highlights of Turin

The Mole Antonelliana, with its distinctive spire and cinema museum, the Piazza Castello at the heart of the city, the grand Savoy Palazzo Reale, the former senate-house and prison Palazzo Madama, the historic and elegant cafes, the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, where the Turin Shroud is currently held, the Museo Egizio, dedicated to Egyptian artefacts, the Reggia di Venaria Reale, one of the largest royal residences in the world, the Basilica di Superga, final resting place of the Savoy family, and the Castello di Rivoli, bursting with contemporary art.

Festivals in Turin

The summer in Turin is punctuated by a number of festivals. The Festival delle Colline Torinesi sees a number of local and national theatre productions take to the stage. The International Jazz Festival of Torino also takes place in the summer and is most enjoyable in the evenings. It attracts a number of famous international names. To appreciate authentic Italian music, attend the Traffic Torino Free Festival, where performers capture the best of each genre on various stages. In November, however, visit Turin to see the Turin International Contemporary Art Festival, which features pieces from 150 of the world’s most well-respected art galleries. In the autumn, the Terra Madre attracts thousands of chefs from across the world. For something more modern and unique, attend either the VIEW Conference or VIEW Fest, both of which look at emerging developments in 3D technology and digital cinema.

Gastronomy in Turin

Around the city, you will come across the three main venues for Turin’s characterful cuisine: the restaurants, the eating houses, and the small international eateries. In this way, Turin offers everything from fine dining to cosy, authentic, hearty meals. Antipasti is particularly popular here, encompassing Albese meat, vol au vent, omelettes, and tuna soup. The seafood influence that is most evident in the dishes of the restaurants, is a result of the many nationals who moved north from southern Italy. Pasta, too, plays a large part in the cuisine of the area. Try tajarin, pasta made with egg, buckwheat pasta soups, butter and sage ravioli, or risotti with beans and salami. Other key ingredients in the hearty food include braised meats and cheese, especially gorgonzola. For dessert, we would recommend trying one of the many chocolate and nut based cakes. Gianduiotto is the most famous chocolate from Turin.

Travel around Turin

Being in such a large city necessitates good transport links. The trains in from and to Turin ensure that travelling to and from your destination is incredibly easy, particularly if you are visiting as part of a rail touring itinerary. Within the city, the bus and tram links are also exceptionally comprehensive, running from 5am until 12am. It is very convenient to move from one side of the city to the other by public transport, meaning that every attraction is within easy reach. This is also a better option to driving around with a hire car. It is important to remember that most tickets run with a time limit as well as a destination.