City of the Week: Turin, Italy

Italy again? If you’re wondering why we’re featuring another Italian city, the answer is simple: In the business of international tourism, summer means busy season, with Italy typically the number one preferred destination by most traveling through Europe. However, as these times remain desperate, we’re delighted to feature Turin, an Italian city that offers a lower price point along with an energy and history to match Florence, Rome or Milan.

Turin is located in the northwestern province of Italy in Piedmont, perfect for discovering the Alps or the Ligurian Sea. Bypass Turin’s industrious reputation (it’s sometimes called the Detroit of Italy) and you’ll find beauty, art, architecture, and historical cuisine! Since the 2006 Winter Olympics, the city’s worked hard to improve its urban areas, transforming factories into cultural venues and closing off streets to build larger piazze, while combining art-noveau columned entry ways with sidewalks unfolding to restaurants and wine bars.

During your visit, you’ll trek through Il Centro, the Quadrilatero Romano, Piazza Castello to the Po River, which runs through the city, region, and country. South of the Po, the Quadrilatero Romano features narrower alleyways of wineries, outdoor restaurants and historic cafes, as well as Via Roma and the city’s new train station, Torino Porta Nuova. Piazza Castello to the Po includes Piazza Vittoria Veneto with the famous building Mole Antonelliana (you’ll recognize its dome as the city’s major landmark), housing the National Museum of Cinema. Lingotto, sitting just south of San Salvario surrounds the former FIAT factory. However, it’s near the famous Slow Food endorsed Eataly, the self-proclaimed largest food and wine center in the world.

Hungry for more? Join us on Wednesday and Friday as we visit famous and noteworthy museums like the Museo Egizio, the largest Egyptian Museum outside of Cairo. We’ll also visit the Shroud of Turin and take a look at the region’s tasteful delights, polenta and bicerin.