Holiday in Turin

What makes Turin special as a destination?

Turin surprises: The elegant Baroque city in Piedmont is much more than FIAT and Juventus. Strolling under the longest arcades in Europe (18 kilometers!), one passes magnificent cafés where Nietzsche and Cavour once sat. The Mole Antonelliana, originally planned as a synagogue and now home to the National Cinema Museum, is Turin's landmark — the glass elevator goes directly under the 167-meter-high dome. The Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) is the second most important in the world after Cairo and was spectacularly modernized in 2015. The Palazzo Reale, the residence of the Savoy kings, forms a counterpoint to the French Versailles with its UNESCO-protected complex. The Venaria Reale on the outskirts of the city is one of the largest royal palaces in Europe. Turin is Italy's chocolate capital: Here, the Gianduiotto (hazelnut chocolate) was invented, and historic chocolatiers like Guido Gobino and Peyrano keep the tradition alive. The Bicerin — a layered drink of espresso, chocolate, and cream — has been around since 1763. Piedmontese cuisine is among the best in Italy: Bagna Cauda, Vitello Tonnato, Agnolotti, and Barolo wine. In the background, the snow-capped Alps rise — Turin is perfect as a combination with a Piedmont road trip through the Langhe vineyards.