Måneskins’ win at the Eurovision Song Contest, started the bidding war for host city in Italy. Turin has come out on top and they have been preparing for your arrival next month. In this article, we will share some of Turin’s highlights and must sees. Todays’ topic: hotspots and sights!
Turin (Italian: Torino), is a large city with about a million inhabitants. It’s located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. The city is an hour away from the French border and Milan. Turin is known for being the home of Italy’s royal family, sport cars and chocolate. Tourists love the city for its fine aristocrat atmosphere, boulevards, palaces and art galeries. Let’s take a look at the most popular sights and hotspots.
Palazzo Reale di Torino
Architecture geeks, eat your heart out! The Royal Palace of Turin (Italian: Palazzo Reale di Torino) is a historic palace of the House of Savoy. Established in 1003, the House of Savoy is a royal dynasty, the family gradually expanded their kingdom over the years. In 1946, a referendum determined Italy to become a republic and the building became state property. Built in the 16th century, the palace includes the Palazzo Chiablese and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud. The building was turning into a museum in the 1940’s, after it became state property. The palace made it on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1997.
Filled with architectural gems, art and gorgeous royal gardens, the palace should definitely be on your short list to check out. We advise to avoid planning a trip here on a Sunday. Lots of locals will be visiting the palace on the Sundays.
Museo Egizio
Looking to escape the lively city? Museo Egizio is a museum located in the city centre of Turin. The museum specialises in Egyptian archaeology and anthropology. It offers one of the largest collections of Egyptian relics. The museum is considered the second most important Egyptology collection, after the Egyptian Museum of Cairo.
There are more than 37,000 items to be viewed, covering the period from the Paleolithic to the Coptic era. Museo Egizio owns three different versions of the famous Egyptian Book of the Dead, including the most ancient copy known. A must see if you’re a fan of all things history and Egypt!
Santuario della Consolata
The Santuario della Consolata, or the Church of the Virgin of the Consolation, is a Marian sanctuary and minor basilica in the centre of Turin. Originally, this building was church. Due to strong links to the Marian cult, it was converted to a sanctuary. The first substantial changes were made in the 16th century. Several architects have rebuild and remodelled the basilisk since its original construction.
The sanctuary is just outside of the prime tourist area, secluded in the tiny streets of Turin. This building is especially known for its baroque altar and ornate decor.
Milano
Obviously Turin has a lot to offer on its own and you might not have a lot of time to go exploring further than just the host city of this years Eurovision Song Contest. We get that. But, since Milan (Italian: Milano) is less than an hour away by train, we had to include this awesome metropolitan city in this article. You can read all about Milan here. You can take a direct train to Milan, it’s only two stops from Turin. Check out Trainline for up-to-date travel information.
Nightlife in Turin
After all the festivities the Eurovision Song Contest has to offer, the night will still be young. Thank god Turin has a wide variety in bars and clubs to visit. From the more elegant bars around Piazza Vittorio, to the more alternative places in Santa Giulia, there’s definitely something that’s your cup of tea. Turin also selected Euroclubs and a Eurocafe. More details will follow on our website in the next weeks. Stay tuned for more info on that in the upcoming weeks!
COVID-19
COVID-19 restrictions are still present in some parts of the world. We don’t want any unpleasant surprises for you upon arrival. Check the website of the official Italian authorities, before heading off to Turin. Safe travels!
All images belong to Shutterstock and are for redactional purposes
