For those who may decide to stay a couple of days longer in Turin and its environs, here are a few suggestions, drawn from our personal favourites:
TO SEE
Museo Egizio (EGYPTIAN MUSEUM)
Via Accademia delle Scienze 6 - Torino
tel 011 / 5617776
Website www.museoegizio.it
The Egyptian Museum houses the most important collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts outside Cairo. Founded in 1824 by King Carlo Felice after acquiring the collection of the archeologist Drovetti, the museum contains 30.000 exhibits. It documents the history and civilization of Egypt from the paleolithic to the coptic era through unique exhibits and collections of objets d'art, articles of daily use and funeral furnishings (including the Altar of Isis, the canvas painted by Gebelein, the intact tombs of Kha and Merit, and the exceptional cliff temple to Ellesjia).
MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale (Oriental Art Museum)
Palazzo Mazzonis - Via San Domenico 9-11, Torino
tel. 011 4436927
Website www.maotorino.it
The MAO opened in Turin on 5 December 2008 and is located in the historical Palazzo Mazzoni (XVIII century).
The museum hosts around 1,500 works, partly from private collections, partly from other museum and partly newly acquired by the city of Turin.
Mole Antonelliana - Museo Nazionale del Cinema
The National Cinema Museum was opened in July 2000 in the building that symbolises Turin the Mole Antonelliana. The exhibition space covers 3.200 square metres and spans five floors. The themes of the floors are: the Archaeology of Cinema, the Film Camera, a Collection of Cinema Posters, Video Installations and the great Temple. In a spectacular setting the museum offers artefacts from the collection of the Maria Adrianna Prolo Foundation including: magic lanterns, optical illusions, photographs, drawings, models and other curious items.
Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo per l'arte
The Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo's new centre for contemporary art is a new cultural centre for Turin, a city that is already particularly active in the field of contemporary art. The new space, designed by architect Claudio Silvestrin, and engineer James Hardwick, aims to become a point of reference for art-lovers and connoisseurs, but also for those who have still to take their first steps towards contemporary art.
Galleria d'arte moderna e contemporanea (GAM)
The collection contains over 15,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, installations and photographs, as well as a rich collection of drawings and engravings. The collections cover the period from the end of the eighteenth century to the present day, and concentrate mainly on Italian art, although important examples of foreign art are also present. Of special interest is a set of highly selected paintings that document the historical international avant-guard.
Castello di Venaria Reale
Piazza della Repubblica 4 - Venaria Reale (TO)
tel. 011.55 92 211
sito web www.lavenaria.it
The castle, the summer residence of the Savoys, was commissioned by Duke Charles Emmanuel II and designed by Castellamonte. It was subsequently transformed into a sumptuous dwelling by Garove, Juvarra and Alfieri. Included in a huge restoration project the castle can be visited.It is an outstanding example of Baroque architecture and includes a Palace and Gallery dedicated to the goddess Diana, and the Church of St. Hubert.
Basilica di Superga
The Basilica of Superga was commisioned by Amedeo II of Savoy: it was designed by Filippo Juvarra in 1717 and completed in 1731. It was built to fulfil a vow made to the Virgin Mary - to whom a chapel is dedicated on the hill - by the Duke on the eve of his victory over the French, who were besieging the city, on september 1706. In the cript is possible to visit part of Savoy dinasty tombs.
A curiosity: a nice old track railway from Sassi will take you up to the hill of Superga, where you can enjoy one of the finest views visible from the hills of Turin.
Chieri
Picturesque medieval town only a few km from Montaldo Torinese.
TO EAT
Chieri
La Rosa Bianca
Strada Andezeno, 2
10023 Chieri TO
011 9412528
Delicious traditional cuisine. 40-60 euro per person.
Ristorante/Pizzeria Cavallino Bianco
Outside eating area.
Via Palazzo di Città, 12, 10023 Chieri TO
tel. 011 9423 101
Pizzeria Allemanuel Vittorio
The best pizza but not outside seating space.
Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 105, 10023 Chieri TO
tel. 011 9478077
Basiglio
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 46, Chieri (in the pedestrian area)
Chocolate and coffee, as well as delicious cakes (including the sweet focaccia, a traditional cake from Chieri)
Pasticceria Buttiglieri
Via XX Settembre, 10 - Chieri
Veri good patisserie and coffee.
Closed on Mondays.
Gelateria GROM
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 59 (ang. Piazza Umberto I), Chieri (TO)
Listed as one of the best gelaterie in Italy by Slow Food.
Opening hours:
Sun to Th 11:00-24:00 - Fri and Sat 11:00-01:00
Other outlets in Turin:
Via Accademia delle Scienze, 4 - 10123 Torino (near Palazzo Carignano and the Museo Egizio)
Via Garibaldi, 11 - 10123 Torino (pedestrian street departing from Piazza Castello)
Piazza Paleocapa, 1/D - 10121 Torino (near the Porta Nuova train station)
Torino
EATALY
Via Nizza, 230 int. 14 (in front of the shopping centre "8 Gallery"), Torino Lingotto area.
Eataly Torino is open every day from 10 to 22:30
The Restaurants from 11:45 to 15:15 and from 18:45 to 22:15
No need to make a booking
Eataly is the world's largest food and wine market where to buy and taste the highest quality food. Every day you can try over 100 different dishes based on market products at the eight themed restaurants, two café-bars and the agrigelateria ice-cream stand inside Eataly.
Dausin
Via Goito, 9
10125 Torino
tel. 011 6693933
Excellent local cuisine, serving specialities from Turin. Very good value.
Ristorante tre galline
via Bellezia, 37
tel +390114366553
In the Quadrilatero Romano, where you will also find numerous wine bars and other eateries.
Pizzeria Amici miei
94, c. Vittorio Emanuele II - TORINO (TO)
Tel. 011.5069961
Great pizza and desserts.
Pizzeria/ristorante Fratelli La Cozza
Corso Regio Parco, 39
10152 - Torino (TO)
tel. 011.859900
Aperto 7 giorni su 7
Great pizza.
Trattoria Ala
Via Santa Giulia 24, Torino
Open from Mon to Sat
Specialised in meat and fish dishes.
GROM
See above, under Chieri
Also in Turin (ice-cream capital of Italy ;-)):
Alberto Marchetti - corso Vittorio Emanuele 24, Torino - Delicious granite siciliane, made with very fresh fruit. Recommended also the granita + brioche combo
Ottimo - Via San Secondo 44, Torino - 8 minutes on foot from Porta Nuova station. We reccomend the flavour grissini e nutella ;-)
See the following websites for more suggestions of what to see and do in Turin, as well as restaurant and hotel reviews: