Torino, Turin, whatever… just visit this hidden treasure of Italy and you’ll be back.
I was recently in Piedmont, Italy, on business and although I had stayed in Turin before, I never really had the time to wander around as a typical tourist… this time, I made a point of doing just that, even if only for a day or so.
I stayed at a hotel near the railway station which made it very convenient as I was coming into and out of Piemonte via Turin… into Turin by train and out of it by air… the Hotel Diplomatic is well priced as a four star hotel with good rates and service, breakfast and well maintained rooms, with a/c – a good experience overall and I would definitely stay there again… ask for Riccardo (he’s the reception manager).
Turin was the first capital of Italy and she truly is a magnificent city; in fact, in 2011, there will be some fantastic celebrations as Turin will be celebrating its 150th anniversary as the capital of Italy.
My first taste of Turin was really a “taste” as I started with a visit to a quaint little café` called Al Bicerin, renowned to be the world’s smallest historical café`. This place prepares the most unbelievable coffee drink called Bicerin, just like the café`’s name… it is a devilish mix of coffee, chocolate and milk cream that dates back to the eighteenth century and a true tradition in Turin and Piedmont in general – a must do when you’re there!
There are so many sights to see in Turin that you’d have to be there for a few days to really take it all in… but I did what I could in the little time I had…
First, the museum of the Holy Shroud… 2010 is the year when the holy shroud will be unveiled again and although I’d like to see the real Sacred Linen, I was content to visit the interesting museum and its chapel.
Then the Egyptian Museum… I love my archaeology… and this museum is ranked #2 in the world, second only to the Cairo Museum. It is unbelievable. You have to see it to really understand the quality and the extent of their collection… I could only stay there for a little over an hour but could have stayed there for the entire day had I had the chance. Close to the Egyptian Museum is the Piazza Castello, one of Turin’s main squares adding to the beauty of this city… from modern architecture to Roman ruins and a lot in-between… and of course porticos with shops and places to eat – there’s a lot of elegant portico’s and galleria’s in Turin…
I also had the time to pass by the Mole Antonelliana, probably Turin’s most visible landmarks… it was originally supposed to be a Jewish synagogue funded by the Jewish community in Turin and then was taken over by the city – it now houses the National Museum of Film. Just opposite the entrance to the museum are a number of little restaurants with outside seating… had a super tasting pizza and a Nastro Azzurro beer… but that’s not even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gastronomy in Turin…
The food is soooo good and varied… but, then again, what food is not good in Italy? Many restaurants offer even an entire meal based on tastings of a variety of traditional dishes… try the beef braised with Barolo wine, the Vitello Tonnato, Agnolotti, among others. Now a place that everyone told me to visit for delectable food was a large market-type gastronomy center called Eataly, where you can not only buy all kinds of foods and wines but you get to eat and drink right there… I just wish I’d had enough time (I’ll save it for my next visit). Then let’s not forget the chocolate – Turin is a mecca for chocolate lovers, just like me… did you know that solid chocolate as we know it today was first made in Turin over 300 years ago? And there are so many little shops offering the most exquisite chocolates to die for! They even created a special discount card called the Choco-Pass! I won’t even mention the ice creams…
So much to enjoy in such a short time… there is a hop-on-hop-off double-decker sightseeing bus that gives you a good feel of the city in about an hour – you can buy a pass for about EU15 to make it a little easier on the feet when you need a break…
Now, my mother was born in Turin and she always told me how elegant the practical the city was… she was oh so very right and although I can’t get to enjoy it with her today, I will keep coming back to discover more of this beautiful and well organized city – it is truly one of the hidden gems of Italy.
