Turin city guide & audio tour
Piedmont, Italy
About Turin
Welcome to Torino, the city where history, chocolate and soaring spires meet. In 1861, when the Italian peninsula finally echoed with a single anthem, Turin was chosen as the very first capital of the new Kingdom of Italy—a daring honour that earned it the nickname “the cradle of Italian liberty.” Walking the cobblestones of the historic centre, you’ll literally pass over the Roman decumanus that once linked the Porta Decumani to the Forum—a reminder that the city’s story stretches from the time of Hannibal’s siege to the age‑of‑automobiles.
A local tradition that tastes as sweet as its past. Turinese cafés spill out onto Piazza San Carlo and Piazza San Calogero, inviting you to join the centuries‑old ritual of “caffè al volo” – a quick espresso paired with a piece of silky gianduiotto, the hazelnut‑chocolate confection invented right here in the 19th century. Whether you’re dabbling in a lazy “aperitivo” along the Po’s waterfront or watching the fierce Derby della Mole between Juventus and Torino, the city’s love of food, coffee and lively debate makes you feel instantly at home.
Don’t leave without meeting the city’s most recognizable silhouette. The Mole Antonelliana, rising 167 metres over the skyline, began its life in 1863 as a Jewish synagogue and now houses the National Museum of Cinema—rightly claimed as the world’s tallest museum. Take the glass‑elevator to its observation deck for a panoramic view that spans the Alpine arches, the winding Po, and the bustling piazzas below; on a clear day you can even spot the distant Superga hill with its majestic basilica. It’s the perfect spot to snap a postcard‑worthy selfie and to remember that in Torino, the past is always hovering just above the present.
Top attractions in Turin
Mole Antonelliana
Rising like a silver needle from the heart of Turin, the Mole Antonelliana dominates the skyline at 167.5 m (550 ft) – still the world’s tallest museum and the tallest unreinforced brick tower ever built. From where you stand, you can see its four‑faced dome crowned by a gleaming 12‑pointed star, a phoenix‑like…
Piazza Castello
At 45.07° N, 7.68° E you’re standing on the very stone that once marked the Roman triumphal road into Augusta Taurinorum, but today it’s the flamboyant heart of Turin – Piazza Castello. From the moment the Savoy dynasty decided the city needed a grand “stage for power,” this square evolved from a modest market place…
Royal Palace of Turin
The palace that looms before you isn’t just a grand façade; it’s the very stage on which centuries of Savoy drama unfolded. Imagine the 17th‑century regent Christine Marie of France, fresh from a Parisian wedding, demanding a new royal residence that could rival Versailles. She called on the brilliant Baroque master…
Chapel of the Holy Shroud
The dome that crowns the Cappella della Sindone looks at first glance like a celestial fireworks display frozen in stone—a rib‑stitched crown of marble and light that seems to reach for the heavens. Designed by the mathematician‑priest Guarino Guarini between 1668 and 1694, this Baroque masterpiece blends daring…
Turin Cathedral
Imagine a stone giant rising at 240 meters above sea level, its façade catching the Piedmont sun and announcing Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battiglia—Turin’s very own “Duomo.” From where you stand, the cathedral’s elegant Renaissance silhouette is framed by the ancient bell tower, a solitary sentinel that predates the…
Palazzo Madama
Look up, and you’ll see the sleek Baroque façade that seems to flicker out of the 18th‑century sky—a single‑bay protrusion of white stone, studded with massive composite pilasters and a balustrade crowned with marble vases. This elegant “screen” was dreamed up by Filippo Juvarra in 1716, his vision of a grand palace…
Piazza Vittorio Veneto
The first thing any visitor notices is the sheer scale of Piazza Vittorio Veneto – at roughly 100 × 100 metres it is one of Turin’s biggest open spaces, a perfect, sun‑kissed arena of gray paving stones that spreads out like a giant chessboard beneath your feet. From this spot you can trace the faint outline of the…
Basilica of Superga
Perched like a crown above the pastel rooftops of Turin, the white marble dome of the Basilica di Superga catches the first light of dawn and turns the hill into a luminous beacon. Its very foundation is a vow‑turned‑monument: on 2 September 1706, Duke Victor Amadeus II, stare‑down with the French besiegers, knelt…
Juventus Stadium
The imposing white shell of Allianz Stadium rises 17 metres above the Vallette skyline, its sleek, post‑modern lines a bold departure from the concrete canyon that once hosted the Stadio delle Alpi. If you can hear the distant hum of Turin’s trams, you’re standing on the very ground where Juventus turned a bitter…
J-Museum
Step into the sleek, angular façade of the Juventus Museum at Via Druento 175, and you’ll immediately feel the echo of over a century of triumphs reverberating across the piazza. Opened on 16 May 2012—exactly the 115th anniversary of Juventus FC—this modern shrine was inaugurated by club president Andrea Agnelli and…
Residences of the Royal House of Savoy
The hill above Turin, where you’re standing, cradles a glittering chain of palaces and villas that once whispered the ambitions of a house that stretched from the Alps to the Mediterranean. In 1997 UNESCO crowned this cluster of 13 royal residences as a World Heritage Site, noting their embodiment of criteria (i)…
Galleria Sabauda
Standing before the stately façade of the Galleria Sabauda, you’re actually staring at the newest chapter of an old story—a 19th‑century treasure trove that now lives in the “Manica Nuova” (New Wing) of Turin’s Royal Palace. The building’s crisp granite columns and the subtle blue‑gray stonework echo the regal…
Porta Palatina
The stone arch before you once marked the grand entrance to Augusta Taurinorum, the Roman colony that would later become modern Turin. Erected around 27 BC, the Porta Palatina—sometimes called the Porte Palatine—was one of the primary gates, positioned at the junction of the decumanus maximus (the main east‑west…
Museum of Oriental Art
You stand before a modest stone façade that, at first glance, might be mistaken for any other elegant 17th‑century palazzo lining Via San Domenico. Yet hidden behind those baroque windows lies one of Italy’s most dazzling treasure troves of Asian art – the MAO Museo di Arte Orientale. Opened on a crisp winter day, 5…
Gran Madre di Dio
The great stone façade you’re gazing at today is a shy encore to the triumph of a king. In 1814, when the Napoleonic tide finally receded, the Sardinian monarch Victor Emmanuel I limped back from a sixteen‑year exile, and the city of Turin sprouted a votive promise: a temple to the “Great Mother of God” as thanks for…
Museo Civico d'Arte Antica
Il Museo Civico d’Arte Antica raccoglie oltre 60.000 opere che testimoniano la ricchezza e la complessità di dieci secoli di produzione artistica italiana ed europea; fu sede del Senato Subalpino.
Royal Armoury of Turin
Santuario della Consolata
Museo Diffuso della Resistenza, della Deportazione, della Guerra, dei Diritti e della Libertà
La storia e i valori della Resistenza, momento fondante della nostra Repubblica democratica, sono proposti al pubblico attraverso un allestimento originale e interattivo.
Infini TO - Planetario e Museo dell'Astronomia e dello Spazio
Self-guided walking tour of Turin
One-day classic Turin: 7–8 hour walking + short transit tour focused on the city's highlights — Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum), the royal heart around Piazza Castello, the Shroud Chapel, Mole Antonelliana (Cinema Museum) and an afternoon riverside stretch with panoramic views from Monte dei Cappuccini and a relaxing walk in Parco del Valentino. Designed for efficient walking routes, museum…
- Piazza Castello – Short walk to Piazza Castello, the city's historic center. Good place for orientation, photos and to pick a cafe for a mid-morning espresso or quick snack.
- Royal Palace of Turin – Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) is adjacent to Piazza Castello — plan ~45–60 minutes to see state rooms and (optionally) the Armeria Reale. Check opening hours; some rooms may be on timed entry.
- Chapel of the Holy Shroud – Cappella della Sindone (Chapel of the Shroud) sits by the Duomo. Access is sometimes restricted for conservation or religious services; check schedules and book if needed. A quick visit: ~20–30 minutes.
- Mole Antonelliana – Mole Antonelliana — see the architecture, take the panoramic lift to the top for city views and visit the Museo Nazionale del Cinema inside. Allow ~60–90 minutes. Book tickets online (timed entries) and note the elevator to the spire may…
- Piazza Vittorio Veneto – Piazza Vittorio Veneto — a wide riverside square ideal for lunch (many cafes and restaurants) and to start the riverside walk toward the Monte dei Cappuccini viewpoint. Short stop: 30–45 minutes if eating.
Facts about Turin
- First capital of unified Italy Turin was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865, playing a central role in the Risorgimento movement that unified the country.
- Automobile capital of Italy Turin is the historical heart of Italy's automotive industry and the birthplace and headquarters of Fiat (founded 1899) as well as home to Lancia and Alfa Romeo.
- Mole Antonelliana icon The Mole Antonelliana, Turin's architectural symbol, houses the National Museum of Cinema and at 167 m is often cited as the tallest museum building in the world.
- World-class Egyptian collection Museo Egizio in Turin hosts one of the largest and most important collections of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt.
- Shroud of Turin The Turin Cathedral contains the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, the current resting place of the famous and controversial Shroud of Turin.
- Largest open market in Europe Porta Palazzo is home to Europe's largest open-air market, known locally as mercato di Porta Palazzo.
- Baroque urban heritage Much of Turin's historic centre features outstanding Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical architecture, and several Savoy residences are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Major international events host Turin has hosted major international events including the 2006 Winter Olympics, the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, and the ATP Finals (2021–2025).
- Piazza Vittorio: grand Baroque square Piazza Vittorio Veneto is celebrated as one of the largest Baroque squares in Europe and is a focal point of Turin nightlife.
- Quirky narrow architecture The tiny triangular 'Fetta di Polenta' building is a famously narrow and picturesque example of Turin's quirky urban architecture.
Explore Turin with the GuideX app
Audio stories for every place, an interactive map and personal walking routes. Free to download on iOS and Android.