Turin Holiday
The famous Shroud, Juventus FC and a superb range of museums - just three of the many reasons to make a beeline for Turin next time you're planning a getaway.
A vibrant, stylish and innovative city, Turin offers a fascinating mix of influences – home of the Italian motor industry, renowned for myths such as the Shroud of Turin, home to the great European football team Juventus and host of the Winter Olympics 2006.
Made the capital of Italy, long before Florence and then Rome, Turin's history and old-world charm is reflected in beautiful baroque facades, courtyards, tree-lined boulevards and wide-open piazza.
The Royal Palace and gardens border the fountain-filled piazza Castello and to the east of the square visitors can marvel at the imposing Mole Antonelliana tower standing 167.5 meters tall and decorated with a star – thought to be commissioned by the city's Jewish community in 1859.
A glass lift in the tower allows breathtaking views of the city and out across the Alps and lower floors now house the National Museum of Cinema.
The world famous Shroud of Turin, thought to be the burial cloth of Jesus, is tucked away in the Capella della Sindone in piazza San Giovanni locked in a jewel-covered chest, only to be unveiled every 25 years (next due 2025) and not to be missed.
Visitors can explore a wealth of museums in the city including the Museo di Arte Contemporanea, Castello di Rivoli, the Museo dell'Automobile and the Egyptian Museum.
The seemingly out-of-place Egyptian Museum (via Accademia delle Scienze), the biggest this side of Cairo, is one of the most popular attractions in Turin, where visitors can admire stunning statues of Ramses II and Amenhotep II, and Royal Papyrus.
Those travellers looking more for action-packed adventure than cultural inspiration can take advantage of Turin's vastly improved ski and winter sports area.
The Olympics early in 2006 have certainly left their touch on Turin providing six new sports venues, as well as an overhaul of the transport system and renovation and revitalization of the hotels.
At Cesana, 13 new lifts were installed and in nearby Borgata, lift capacity doubled. Sestriere is Italy's first modern ski resort boasting 146 different pistes.
For those looking for a more relaxing time, Parco del Valentino is very popular with the locals who flock there to picnic, stroll and cycle or boat along the River Po alongside tree-lined banks.
Other special parks and gardens include the huge Il Gran Bosco di Salbertrand on the slopes of Val Susa filled with wildlife and spruce, and the Parco della Pellerina – a beautiful park in the city and one of the largest in the city.
If strolling through the city parks has given you a hearty appetite excellent Tuscan dishes and great local wine can be enjoyed at Al Gatto Nero. Also, downtown Turin offers Balbo, a restaurant with a wide range of regional dishes.
Ristorante C'Era una Volta is the best place to try Piedmontese cuisine, especially local dishes such as bagna cauda (a delicious anchovy and garlic dip).
The best time to visit Turin is between December and April and being only a two hour flight from London there is really no excuse.
