Torino or Turin, known as the gateway to Italy from France, is truly a hidden gem and one of the least talked about cities in Italy! Driving from Annecy offers sprawling views of the Alps. The ~165 mi drive took us around 3 hours. We also made a quick pit stop at a gas station to grab espresso (would be a sacrilege not to!) and freshly squeezed orange juice 🙂
We had one of our best friends, Franci, as our personal guide for the entire trip (he sure hates us calling him this 😉 ) – this made our trip all the more special. Oh, and our visited coincided with the Eurovision Song Contest! A not-so-toursity city was teeming with people from all over Europe who had gathered for the EuroVision finals. We had 3 days to explore this charming city.
Santa Maria di Monte dei Cappuccini offers great views of the city and the silhoutte of the alps in the backdrop. The Savoia (Savoy) family, with their French roots, had a significant influence on Torin. Their influence can be seen in the city’s palaces and monuments. The House of Savoy, which provided Italy with kings and played a key role in the country’s unification, also made Torino the first capital of the newly united Italy.
Torino is dotted with baroque and renaissance style buildings, featuring historic boulevards, and light-filled domes. It boasts of a huge city city center which has local farmers market selling fruit, meat, cheese during weekends. The architecture and city vibes provide a perfect amalgamation of history, modern, and northern!
The Mole Antonelliana, a tall spire, is an iconic symbol of the city. No photo of Torino is complete without a view of the Mole. It was originally built as a synagogue in 1848, but now houses the National Museum of Cinema. The museum contains equipment and memorabilia from the history of film production. The viewing platform at the top of the building offers impressive views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
Fun fact: The Shroud of Turin is a famous artifact in Christianity that is believed by some to be the burial shroud of Jesus, with an imprint of his image on the cloth. Despite being the subject of scientific study, the shroud remains controversial and is generally considered to be a forgery by many. It has been in the possession of the Duomo in Turin, Italy since the 14th century, but is typically kept in a box and is only occasionally displayed to the public.
We were pleasantly surprise by the culinary delights that Torino offered. It is well-known for chocolate and truffles. What we did not expect was how vegetarian friendly the city turned out to be! Gnocchi in fresh basil pesto and black croissants (yes, you read that right) are a must have! Torino is also home to the famous Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile and Museo Egizio which, unfortunately, we could not visit this time. We’ll be back for this. Ciao, Torino!
