Places to visit in Turin

Turin Airport is situated in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy, and is only 16 km from the city centre of Turin. The Piedmont region has a population of over four and a half million people, and is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. Turin is its capital city, and has a very interesting geographical location, as the beautiful snow capped mountains serve as a backdrop to the city, while the sea is also not far away, and many tourists enjoy the resorts of the Liguria region. The mountains nearby Turin were used for various events in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, and this event also brought about the positive renovations and modernization of the terminal building.

The city of Turin is located alongside the Dura River and the Po River, and is well known for its many historical buildings of interesting architecture and Baroque character. Street cafés are also very popular outings for locals and tourists. Turin is wealthy in terms of business, and has a thriving tourism industry. Many fascinating landmarks and buildings characterize the city, and there are around one hundred and fifty different museums and galleries to admire. Some noteworthy religious buildings in Turin can also create some wonderful photographs for tourists to take home with them. Although Turin offers plenty of entertainment, some tourists like to explore the surrounding towns as well, such as Alba, Aosta, Avigliano and Saluzzo, which are all good destinations for a day trip from Turin. More adventurous tourists make their way up to the mountain resorts, such as Crissolo, for hiking and skiing activities.

The Turin Shroud is undoubtedly one of the most famous attractions in Turin, and draws thousands of visitors every year. The Turin Shroud is one of the best-known features of Turin’s Cathedral, Duomo di San Giovanni, and is a religious relic stored in a vault beneath the cathedral. This fact is often disappointing to many tourists who hoped to see it in more detail, but the Shroud is actually only brought out for public viewing every 25 years. The last time it was showed was in the year 2000. However, tourists can still see the relic in photographs, or sometimes it is taken out for unofficial events. The cathedral is still worth a look even if the Shroud is hidden away, as it is an excellent example of Turin’s Renaissance architecture. A fire almost destroyed the building in 1997, and visitors can see the part that was damaged in the fire.

Another religious building of note in Turin is the Basilica di Superga, or the Superga Cathedral, located on top of a hill, and overlooks the city presenting some wonderfully stunning views. This is also the place where Turin’s football team lost their lives in a plane crash in the mid twentieth century. The Santuario della Consolata is a beautiful church building with a lovely pink and white façade located in via Maria Adelaide. Its interior design is also quite remarkable, and features silver and gold decorations, marble, various woodcarvings and some paintings. There are also several statues to view.

Turin is filled with some lovely landmarks that also attract thousands of tourists. The highest building in Turin is considered to be one of the most popular landmarks, and it is called the Mole Antonelliana. It stands tall at 549 feet, or 167.5 meters, and was originally built as a Jewish synagogue in the later 19th century. Visitors can get to the top of the building by an elevator that runs up the centre of the structure, and enjoy the views of the city from the observation deck. There is however a charge for entering the building. The Piazza Castello is also one of Turin’s most popular tourist attractions. The buildings here are a reminder of Turin’s long political history, and were the home of the Savoy Royal Family. The Royal Armory, State Archives and the city’s Royal Place enclose the Piazza Castello. In the square visitors will also find the Palazzo Madame, with one of the most impressive art collections in Turin.

Additional landmarks and monuments in Turin include the Roman Amphitheatre and Porta Palatina, the Lingotto Center and the Castello Del Valentino, or Valentino Castle. Tourists coming to see Turin’s Cathedral can also stop and view the remains of an ancient Roman Amphitheatre, which may be as old as the 1st century BC. In this area as well, there is the Porta Palatina, which used to be the old Turin city walls, and now just a small remaining portion can be seen. However, it is still a very impressive sight. The Lingotto building used to be the car factory of Fiat, with a well-known rooftop test track. It has now been transformed into a modern leisure complex, but some of the parts of the original building can still be explored.

One of the most interesting museums in Turin is the Egyptian Museum, or the Museo Egizio. This museum has quite an amazing collection of Egyptian artifacts, including mummies and a reconstructed burial chamber. It is known to be one of the best collections of this sort outside of Cairo. There is a charge to view this museum, but children may enter for free. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, between 08:30 and 19:30. Most museums in Turin are closed on Mondays. More information and history about Turin’s famous Shroud is available in the Museo della Sindone, and the Natural History Museum is of interest to the whole family, with many displays and exhibitions. Other museums in Turin include the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, or Museum of Cinema, and the Museo dell Automobile, or Motor Museum.

The main tourist information centre in Turin is found in the centre of Piazza Solferino, in the atrium building. There are also tourist information offices at the train stations, and at the airport. Tourists can also purchase the Torino Card at the main tourist information centre, which allows free access to many of the museums in the city, sightseeing buses and usage of the public transportation system.
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