Museum

If this is your first time in Turin (Torino), there are several museums that should not be missed: unique among other Italian and international institutions, they will reveal to you the city’s history, traditions, present and future. Those with an interest in ancient history should not miss the Museo Egizio, the most important institution of its kind in the world after the one in Cairo: it is here that the statue of Ramses II is preserved. One can still sense the presence of the royal family who once resided here while strolling through the city centre, with the Palazzo Reale, home of the museum of the same name, and the adjacent Palazzo Madama, which houses the Museo Civico d’Arte Antica (Museum of Ancient Art): together with the other villas, palaces and castles in the area, they constitute an unparalleled group of Royal Residences. Turin (Torino) was the first capital of Italy, in 1861: the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano (currently closed for renovations), is housed inside the magnificent Palazzo Carignano, a Baroque masterpiece designed by Guarino Guarini. If you didn’t know that Italian cinema was born in Turin (Torino), then the Museo Nazionale del Cinema will tell you the story with its unique exhibition, which is housed inside the city’s most important monument and symbol, the Mole Antonelliana. If, on the other hand, you are a lover of modern and contemporary art, there are 4 foundations in Turin (Torino) that you simply must visit: the GAM Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Castello di Rivoli, the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and the Fondazione Merz. And don’t forget to visit MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale (Oriental Art Museum), where you’ll admire a broad range of artwork, representing the main Asian artistic and cultural traditions.

Royal Residences

The crown of delights is the name given to the group of Royal Residences of great historical, artistic and environmental interest that were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997.
We begin with the Palazzo Reale, the court residence designed by Castellamonte situated in the centre of the city and Palazzo Madama, the elegant abode of the royal ladies, which stands in the middle of Piazza Castello and epitomises the many different eras of the city’s history. Built on Roman foundations, the main body of the building dates from the Middle Ages; there is also a wonderful Baroque facade, and the entrance hall and monumental staircase designed by Filippo Juvarra. Also in the city, in the heart of the Park of Valentino and next to the Po, stands the Castles of Valentino, home of the Faculty of Architecture since 1860.
Nor should one ignore the residences on the outskirts of the city, which were used for pleasure and hunting: these include the Villa della Regina, the magnificent Reggia di Venaria Reale, summer residence of the Savoy family and today part of an impressive renovation project that also involves its grounds; Castles of Rivoli, home of the important Museum of Contemporary Art; the Castles of Moncalieri and Agliè, the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi. We should also mention the Castles of Racconigi, Govone, Pollenzo and La Mandria, which were also involved in production and agricultural activities.
Numerous opportunities to relive historical and other events on the Canavese Castle Circuit and the delightful mountain villages of the Olympic Mountains, rich in traditions, history and folklore.
The diaries of foreign travellers visiting Turin (Torino) during the Gran Tour tell of the magnificent parties, spectacles and ceremonies that took place inside these buildings, which continue to be the regal settings for events and exhibitions. 

Palaces & Courtyards

Turin (Torino) was a city of kings, dukes and marquises and this is evident by the many palazzos, some elegant and ostentatious, others sober and welcoming, which can be admired while strolling through the city centre, revealing courtyards and arcades, precious materials and ceilings with original frescoes. While some are still inhabited, many have been adapted for use as administrative offices and exhibition centres.
A rather unique example of a Renaissance building is Palazzo Scaglia di Verrua, with its two connected courtyards; not far from here is the elegant Palazzo Falletti di Barolo, while Palazzo Cavour, which today hosts many temporary exhibitions, is one of the finest examples of the Piedmontese Baroque style. Amongst Filippo Juvarra’s first creations we can admire Palazzo Birago di Borgaro, with its picturesque courtyard, while the Palazzo that is home to Carpano, the vermouth company, is characterised by the neo-Baroque backdrop to the building.
The architecture changes as we move away from the city centre; the Baroque gives way to extremely beautiful examples of the Liberty style: town houses and villas characterised by sinuous lines, windows of various forms, with abstract or naturalistic decorations, such as Casa Fenoglio-La Fleur, Casa Tasca, Palazzo Maffei and many others, which were mostly built in the Crocetta and Cit Turin quarters at the beginning of the last century.

Nightlife

The so-called Quadrilatero Romano (Roman Quarter) is located in the heart of the old city centre, an area of charming old streets and piazzas that offers something for every taste. As you explore the wineries, Moroccan cafes, tapas bars, restaurants and clubs, you will also find several shops that are open late into the evening. Another way to experience the nightlife in Turin (Torino), walking from one spot to another.

The heart of Turin (Torino) nightlife for many young people, especially in the summer, is the Murazzi, the embankment next to the river Po, beneath Piazza Vittorio. Here, a vast array of pubs, clubs and restaurants offer dj and vj sets as well as live concerts; you can listen to music, dance, drink an aperitif or eat dinner while watching the sunset, admiring the Turinese hill and observing the rowers on the Po.

Continuing along the Murazzi we arrive at the Valentino Park, an incredible green area during the day, but also a great place to meet in the evening. The ‘imbarchi’ (landing stages) on the banks of the Po have been transformed into atmospheric cafes and wine bars where you can enjoy a drink and listen to good music, while the real night owls can visit one of the fashionable clubs.

The Docks Dora is an industrial complex built at the beginning of the 1900s with extremely characteristic architecture. It is one of the last of turin (Torino) so-called ‘industrial architectural areas’ and once consisted of nothing but warehouses. Today, in addition to the studios/workshops of artists, photographers and architects, you will also find several shops and night spots. Cafè Blue is particularly well known for its tango nights, which take place on Sundays.

Every year in November, Turin (Torino) celebrates its role as the capital of dance and electronic music with the Club to Club International Festival of Electronic Music and Art: a major annual event that brings together the cream of the global dance/electronic scene with leading djs, musicians and performers from Italy and abroad. Thus, Turin (Torino) is transformed into a ‘dancefloor’ and, thanks to the collaboration with Artissima and other prestigious initiatives, it can also count on the participation of clubs, urban spaces, the general public and contemporary musical and social styles to reinforce the idea of Turin (Torino) as the capital of contemporary art. This event is closely linked to the PiemonteGroove project, which aims to promote the Piedmont dance/electronic music scene in the rest of the world.

Turin (Torino) has been described as ‘the Buenos Aires of Europe’, and is the home of Argentine tango in Italy, the city with the highest number of enthusiasts and the largest number of milongas, the traditional dance evenings. Dancers of all ages and abilities fill the dance halls and clubs during the winter, while in the summer they move to the terraces next to the river and the piazzas in the city centre, captivating spectators with the passionate sounds of the music and the sensual movements of their dancing. The last four editions of the Tango Torino Festival and the event is now firmly established on the international calendar, with professional dancers and afecionados arriving in the city to perform and attend lessons, courses and milongas every night. For information: http://www.marcelaystefano.com/