Sightseeing OverviewTurin’s historic center is compact and sightseeing on foot is easy, as most visitor attractions are located there.
Around Piazza Castello are the
Duomo (Cathedral) which contains the
Cappella della Sindone (Chapel of the Shroud), and the sumptuous interiors of the former Savoy royal palace
Palazzo Reale. A copy of the shroud is in the
Museo della Sindone, further to the west.
A short walk south, in the
Accademia delle Scienze, on via Accademia delle Scienze, is the celebrated
Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) and the
Galleria Sabauda, the main art gallery.
To the east, near the
River Po, is the city’s iconic landmark the
Mole Antonelliana, which houses the
Museo Nazionale del Cinema (National Museum of Cinema).
On the outskirts of Turin are the former
Savoy Palaces, vast royal residences in the surrounding countryside. The most famous of all is the
Stupinigi Palace, set in parkland 9km (5.5 miles) from the city. The best viewpoint is from the
Basilica di Superga, a baroque church reached by tramway from Sassi station.
Tourist InformationTurismo Torino Atrium Torino, Piazza Solferino
Tel: (011) 535 181.
Website:
www.turismotorino.org There is also a tourist information desk at Sandro Pertini airport, and one at Porta Nuova railway station.
PassesThe
Torino Card is a pass that gives free entry to over 130 attractions in Turin and Piedmont, including museums and royal residences. Other benefits include free travel on public transport in the city and free trips on the panoramic lift in the Mole Antonelliana. Passes last for 48 or 72 hours.
Key Attractions:The Cathedral and the Holy Shroud The 15th-century
Duomo (Cathedral) contains the
Capella della Sindone, built to house the Holy Shroud (the original is only displayed every 25 years, the last time in 2000), the background story of which is explained in the
Museo della Sindone.
Duomo and Capella della Sindone Piazza San Giovanni
Tel: (011) 436 1540.
The Capella della Sindone is currently under restoration.
Museo della Sindone Via San Domenico 28
Tel: (011) 436 5832.
Website:
www.sindone.org Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) This museum contains the finest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside Cairo, including findings from the tomb of the architect Kha and a reconstructed tomb from 2100BC.
Via Accademia delle Scienze 6
Tel: (011) 561 7776.
Website:
www.museoegizio.org Mole Antonelliana Built as a synagogue in the 19th century, this striking building now houses Italy’s
Museo Nazionale del Cinema (National Museum of Cinema) while the tower (reached by lift) has a viewing platform offering panoramic views of the city and the Alps.
Museo Nazionale del Cinema Via Montebello 20
Tel: (011) 813 8560/1.
Website:
www.museonazionaledelcinema.org Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) The most accessible of the former Savoy royal residences, this 17th-century palace contains lavish furnishings and paintings, and is set in grounds designed by Andre Le Notre, who also laid out Versailles.
Piazzetta Reale
Tel: (011) 436 1455.
Website:
www.ambienteto.arti.beniculturali.it Galleria Sabauda This art gallery, housed in the same building as the Egyptian Museum, contains a fine collection of Italian paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries, as well as works by artists such as Van Dyke.
Via Accadamia delle Scienze 6
Tel: (011) 440 6903.
Website:
www.museitorino.it/galleriasabaudaFurther Distractions:Basilica di Superga This baroque church, reached by a rack tramway from piazza Modena in the city center, is set on a wooded hill high above Turin and affords superb views over the city.
Strada Basilica di Superga 73
Tel: (011) 898 0083.
Website:
www.basilicadisuperga.com Parco del Valentino This extensive park in the southern part of the city beside the Po, is a great place to relax, as well as to admire the unusual
Borgo Medievale (a lifesize reconstruction of a rural medieval village) and the plants in the
Orto Botanico, the city’s botanic garden.
Off Corso Massimo D’Azeglio
Orto Botanico Viale PA Mattioli 25
Tel: (011) 661 2447.
Website:
www.bioveg.unito.it
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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