or else of visiting one of Italy ’s more popular destinations , consider a trip to this stunning pip with unbelievable food .
Take A Breakis your ultimate guide to the perfect trips to recharge , rediscover yourself and your relationships , and reengage with the human beings .
Year after twelvemonth , Italy remain one of the most popular international terminus for American traveler . During the peak summer time of year , tourists from all across the United States flock to Rome , Florence , the Amalfi Coast and other Instagram hot spot .
But another amazing place in Italy that often gets omit is Turin . Known as Torino in Italian , the impressive city is the capital of the Piedmont realm in the northwestward ( and was even the first capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy in the nineteenth century ) . Visitors to Turin can enjoy beautiful mountain landscapes , opulent palaces , world - year museums and more .
On the culinary side , the metropolis boasts a vivacious restaurant scene , have conspicuously in an sequence of Stanley Tucci ’s food and travel show “ Searching for Italy . ” And as the host of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and two World Cups , Turin has good deal to offer fun and history fans .
Despite all this cultural slug , Turin is rather overshadowed by its more famous twin , at least among American traveler . When I had the chance sojourn last summer , I was immediately enamor by the city ’s unassuming elegance , welcoming locals and sense of tranquility , free from the sempiternal horde of tourists that infest many other destinations in Italy at this clock time of twelvemonth .
To obligate more travelers to bestow Turin to their Italian vacation itineraries , I ’ve compiled my favourite dishes , draw and more highlights from the “ Città Magica . ”
Where To Stay
I natter Turin with a orotund chemical group of friends , and we stayedat an Airbnbthat felt like our own mini palazzo . Spanning three floor , the flat was ornately decorated with spate of wallpaper , upholstered piece of furniture , framed art and other embellishments .
Those looking for a hotel experience will find plenty of options as well . The Turin Palace Hotel is in a reestablish building decently in the city centre . The nearby Grand Hotel Sitea is a historical property with broad room and a Michelin - starred restaurant .
For something with a more contemporaneous feel , the NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina is also a pop selection .
What To Eat
Italian food is famously delicious , but this culinary art is not a monolith by any means . So , I always direct to eat regional delicacies wherever I travel in Italy .
In Turin , my favorite Piedmontese dish was tajarin ― a rich , egg - heavy pasta typically swear out with truffles and butter or a local meat sauce call sugo d’arrosto . The meat - filled agnolotti alimentary paste is another tasty specialization .
Other classic dishes to assay include vegetables dip in bagna cauda , a warm sauce made with garlic and anchovies , and crunchy breadsticks known as grissini . Although I was n’t a massive buff , I ’m glad I sampled vitello tonnato ― cold , thin sliced veal topped with a creamy tuna sauce .
My best meal in Turin was a adorable solo dejeuner at a restaurant called Tre Galli . I also savour Greco-Roman Torinese solid food at Osteria al Tagliere and L’Osto del Borgh Vej . The Mercato Centrale Torino food residence hall offers something for everyone , which is sodding when traveling with a group . You might also want to make fourth dimension to call in the world ’s very first Eataly as well .
Spazio7 and Piola da Cianci also came highly recommended , as did the historical Caffè Platti and Caffè Mulassano . And to cap off any repast with a perfumed treat , look no further than Gelateria Pepino .
What To Drink
The Piedmont region is noted for its Barolo and Barbaresco wine , which mate well with many dishes or even as a primal ingredient ( as in brasato al Barolo or risotto al Barolo ) .
But truly no sojourn to Turin is everlasting without at least one bicerin . This decadent potable is made with coffee , coffee and Milk River , perfectly layer in a way that just screams to be photograph . I ’m pleased to report it also savor awing .
My bicerin - tasting journey led me to delicious and picturesque establishments like Farmacia del Cambio , Caffe al Bicerin dal 1763 and Caffé Baratti & Milano .
I even tried an alcoholic variant of a bicerin at Piano35 ― a lounge at the top of the Intesa Sanpaolo Skyscraper . The breathtaking views alone made it deserving the visit , but the creative cocktails were an total bonus .
Casa Proseccheria was another nice spot for aperitivi , with plenty of prosecco , cocktail and collation offerings .
What To Do
On my first forenoon in Turin , I began the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. with a hike up to Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte dei Cappuccini , a hilltop church with gorgeous views of the metropolis . I later chaffer another church , the Baroque - style Chiesa di San Lorenzo .
For something farther afield , you may make a journeying to the illustrious Basilica di Superga . And if you ’re into royal story , you might also want to schedule a visit to La Venaria Reale ― a large palace estate just outside urban center and one of the expanse ’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
For a preference of grand computer architecture , tourists hardly need to hazard beyond Turin ’s city center , however . There ’s Piazza San Carlo , a baronial square surrounded by Baroque building , and Piazza Castello , home to the imperial Palazzo Madama Torino ( now an artistic production museum ) . The nearby Royal Palace of Turin transports visitors back in time to the metropolis ’s purple past .
Perhaps the most iconic part of Turin ’s horizon is the Mole Antonelliana , which houses the moving picture museum ― Museo Nazionale del Cinema . Another illustrious museum is the Museo Egizio , where story yellowish brown can find an all-inclusive accumulation of Egyptian artifacts .
Fans of contemporary graphics will enjoy the Castello di Rivoli , a former purple abode that now showcases cutting - edge exhibitions juxtaposed against its restore 17th - century castle backdrop . Do n’t sleep on the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli art art gallery , either .
Those interested in the conjugation of Italy will no doubt require to explore the Museum of the Risorgimento , which is located in another famous quondam edifice , Palazzo Carignano . And for some ancient account , do n’t forget to check out the Palatine Gate , a well - bear on gateway go steady back to the first century BC .
In addition to my climb up to the brow Christian church , I also stretched my legs quite a piece by stroll along the River Po and research the expansive Parco del Valentino . The common blow a number of notable attractions , like the distinguished Castello del Valentino and Borgo Medievale , a reconstructed medieval village and clear air museum .
get more into modern times , Turin is powerfully assort with the Italian self-propelling industry , with iconic brands like Fiat , Lancia and Alfa Romeo headquartered in the urban center . It ’s unsurprisingly also home to the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile ( National Automobile Museum ) .
And of course , sports fan should train the schedule to see if the famous Juventus football golf club or its rival Torino have any mates scheduled during their clock time in the region .
With so much to offer tourist of all ages and interests , Turin is truly a hidden gem that charm visitor with its unbelievable cuisine , deep history and vivacious spell . As Americans good deal elsewhere in Italy , Turin visitors do n’t need too much advance booking to experience the rich cultural tapestry that makes the city so magical . This clause earlier appeared onHuffPost .
