Top 20 Attractions in Turin

Turin grew out of a small Roman colony. Since the 10th century, the city was ruled by the Dukes of Savoy, after the victory of the movement for the unification of Italy, it was the capital of the Italian kingdom for 4 years. During the reign of the Savoy dynasty, such architectural masterpieces as the Palazzo Reale, the Valentino Castle and the Villa della Regina appeared in Turin. In the XV-XVIII centuries. picturesque temples were erected, which still adorn the historical quarters of the city.

Turin has one of the best museums of Egyptian culture in the world, the shroud of Jesus Christ himself and a magnificent car collection with rare cars. Also in Turin, the famous Juventus team was born, whose victories in the championships never cease to please the fans.

What to see and where to go in Turin?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Castello Square

The architectural ensemble of Piazza Castello was formed by the end of the 16th century. The architect A. Vitozzi worked on her appearance. The square is surrounded by the buildings of the Royal Theatre, the castle of Palazzo Madama, the Royal Palace, the Armory, the government house and the library. From here, the four main streets of Turin diverge in different directions. Also on the square is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista).

Piazza San Carlo

One of the main squares of Turin. It originated in the 17th century after the city became the capital of Savoy. Due to the new status, there was a significant expansion of urban space. The final appearance of the area took shape by the middle of the 19th century, along with the installation of a monument to Duke Emmanuel Philibert, the ruler of Savoy. Piazza San Carlo was reconstructed in 2006 on the eve of the Olympic Games in Turin.

Mole Antonelliana

A tall tower that dominates the urban area. The structure is easily visible from anywhere in Turin. The tower was designed by the ambitious architect A. Antonelliano in the 19th century. The master received an order from the Jewish community for the construction of a synagogue, but he could not complete the grandiose project, as he died in the process of work. As a result, the Jews refused to continue to finance the work, and the city authorities bought the tower. In the 20th century, a cinema museum was located on its territory.

Palazzo Reale

Royal Palace of the Savoyard Royal Family. The Palazzo was rebuilt from the old episcopal palace by order of Duke Emmanuel Philibert in the 17th century. The graceful royal residence is considered one of the most elegant creations in the Baroque style. The object is included in the UNESCO heritage list. In one of the wings of the palazzo there is an art gallery made up of paintings that once belonged to the Dukes of Savoy.

Palazzo Madama

The palace is located on Piazza Castello in the central part of Turin. It was erected in the 13th century on the site of Roman buildings. Over the long history of its existence, the palazzo has been used as a prison, a guest castle, the residence of widowed rulers, an art gallery and a meeting place for the Piedmontese parliament. The building has two different facades. The first is made in the style of a medieval castle, the second - in the Baroque style.

Palazzo Carignano

A palace complex of impressive size, which was built in the 17th century for the family of the princes of Carignano, the younger branch of the Savoy dynasty. It was here in 1820 that Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a united Italy, was born. In the 19th century, the parliament met on the territory of the palace, now the building houses a museum. The Palazzo was built of red brick in the Baroque style, designed by G. Guarini.

Valentino Castle

A French-style castle that was used as one of the residences of the Dukes of Savoy. The structure was rebuilt in the 17th century at the behest of Christina of France. By the 19th century, the heavily dilapidated castle was taken over by the local university. After restoration work, the Turin Motor Show of 1900 was held on its territory. Currently, the Valentino Castle houses the Faculty of Architecture of the university.

Villa della Regina

One of the numerous palaces of the Dukes of Savoy, built in the 16th century. The mansion was built for the brother of Victor Amadeus I - Maurice, but soon the widow of the ruler settled here, and the rebellious relative fled to Spain. The Dukes of Savoy owned Villa della Regina until the second half of the 19th century, when the building was sold. In the middle of the 20th century, real estate, together with the land, was transferred to the state.

Basilica of Superga

The picturesque baroque church of the 18th century, built under Victor Amadeus II according to the project of F. Yuvarra. The ruler swore on the top of Superga Hill in 1706 that if he defeated the French, he would build a temple in honor of the Virgin Mary. The result of the fulfillment of this vow was the construction of the basilica, since the French were eventually defeated. Many representatives of the Savoy dynasty are buried on the territory of the temple.

Cathedral of John the Baptist

Turin Cathedral of the 15th century, built on the site of a Roman amphitheater and three early Christian churches of the 6th-7th centuries. The temple is a famous place of pilgrimage. The cathedral complex includes the chapel of the Holy Shroud, where one of the most important Christian relics, the Shroud of Turin, is kept. It is believed that the body of Jesus was wrapped in this piece of cloth after he was taken down from the cross. The cathedral was built according to the project of B. di Francesco.

Church of Santuario della Consolata

Temple of the middle of the 17th century, erected on the site of an earlier church according to the project of G. Guarini, one of the best masters of the Baroque era. The most valuable relic of the temple is the Madonna and Child icon, which dates back to the 4th-5th century and is considered miraculous. The Santuario della Consolata underwent several restorations in the 18th and 20th centuries. From the observation area on the roof of the temple offers a magnificent view of Turin.

Church of Gran Madre di Dio

The temple is located on the top of the Capuchin Hill. It is believed that it stands on the very spot where the Holy Grail is hidden. There are many superstitions and mystical legends associated with the church. The building was built in the period 1827-31. in honor of the return from exile of King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. The portico of the main entrance is supported by classical Corinthian columns, in general, the building resembles the Roman Pantheon.

Church of San Lorenzo

Temple of the 17th century, designed by G. Gvarini and F. Yuvar. The baroque facade of the building in light yellow tones fits perfectly into the architectural ensemble of Piazza Castello. The exterior decoration of the church is distinguished by a large amount of stucco and decorative details. The building is crowned with an octagonal dome. The interior of the temple is decorated with valuable paintings, statues, sculptures and antique furniture.

Palatine Gate

Antique gate, whose age dates back to the 1st century BC. In the era of the Roman Empire, they were a passage to the city from the north. The Palatine Gate is located on the territory of the archaeological park - an excavation area created in 2006. The statues of the emperors Octavian Augustus and Julius Caesar, installed in front of the gate, were created in 1934. They are copies of original sculptures that have not survived to this day.

Teatro Regio

The Turin Opera House, created in the 18th century according to the project of F. Juvarra. A few years after the start of work, the theater was closed by order of the king, and a warehouse was placed in the building. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, the opera stage began to perform its direct functions again. In the 20th century, the theater burned down twice, leaving only the façade of the original building. After reconstruction, the renovated opera house opened in 1973. Maria Callas sang at the premiere performance.

Egyptian Museum

The largest collection in Europe dedicated to the culture and history of the Egyptian civilization. In terms of diversity and richness of the exposition, the Egyptian Museum of Turin is second only to the museum of the same name in Cairo. The exposition began with the private collection of Charles Emmanuel III, who was an enthusiastic collector of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The museum funds contain valuable papyri, mummies, statues, decorations from the graves of pharaohs and much more.

National Automobile Museum

The museum exhibits more than 200 cars from different European countries. There are Italian cars of the late 19th century, Ferrari cars, elegant Alfa Romeos, models of the Rolls-Royce concern, as well as cars participating in famous races of the early 20th century. The museum was founded in 1932 by the Italian aristocrat-collector C. B. di Ruffia. Its exposition is included in the TOP-50 of the best museums in the world.

Museum of Oriental Art

The museum exposition is dedicated to the art of China, South and Southeast Asia, Tibet, Japan and Islamic states. The time period that the collection covers is 3000 BC. -XVIII-XIX centuries The halls of the museum exhibit Chinese ceramics, Japanese wooden statues, rare manuscripts, sculptures, paintings, books, bronzes, Ottoman velvet and other valuable art and household items.

Juventus Stadium

City football stadium, home arena of the famous Juventus team. The complex was opened in 2011, it was built to replace the old arena "Delle Alpi", which no longer met the needs of players and fans. Juventus is designed for 41 thousand spectators, during its construction all relevant requirements for safety and comfort were taken into account. Due to the special shape of the structure, the playing field is ideally illuminated.

Cape Park

City park in the western part of Turin, covering an area of ​​about 83 hectares. The park was named after one of the teachers of the University of Turin - M. Carrara, who did not swear allegiance to Mussolini. The place is better known because of the unofficial name "cape" in honor of the cheese factory of the same name, which is located nearby. The park has several football fields, a swimming pool, rollerblading and tennis courts.