Turin has a lot to offer children. Since the Winter Olympics in 2006, the winter sports offerings in the city have improved considerably. There are a number of ski resorts catering to families and there is the chance to enjoy gentle hikes. The city is brimming with parks which are perfect for playing football or having a picnic and if the weather’s cold and wet, there is the National Cinema Museum to keep children entertained.
E for Environment Museum (Museo A come Ambiente
This is the first museum in Europe to deal solely with environmental issues and education. It is a fun, interactive museum which is aimed specifically at children and their families. It is divided into three separate parts: energy and transport; refuse and water; and the visit. There are guides on standby to lead workshops, play games and explain exhibits. www.museoambiente.org.
Football The black and white colours of Juventus are worn with pride in Turin and can be seen everywhere. Football is taken seriously here and a trip to the ground for a match is entertaining for the whole family. Tickets are available for all home games, although tickets for matches against their chief rival, Milan, are hard to come by.
National Cinema Museum This museum opened in 2000 and is the only one of its kind in Italy. It is located within the Mole Antonelliana, one of Turin’s most famous landmarks, and boasts five floors of movie memorabilia. Children love the museum as displays include cinema posers, the original cape worn by Christopher Reeve in Superman, optical illusions, photographs, magic lanterns and a number of models. www.museonazionaledelcinema.org/en.
Valentino Park This park in the city is a great place to take kids. There are enormous green expanses which are perfect for kicking a ball around, throwing a Frisbee or having a picnic. The park is also home to an 18th-century castle, a model medieval village, a rock garden and botanical gardens - enough to keep even the most energetic child busy.
Winter Sports The Winter Olympics in 2006 have helped to put Turin on the map when it comes to winter sports. There are a number of ski resorts available which also offer snowboarding. Skiing is a great family activity that can be enjoyed by all due to the different grades of pistes.
Turin does not boast the large number of museums found in other Italian cities, but it is home to many fascinating ones which cover a broad spectrum of interest. The Egyptian Museum is the largest outside of Cairo and the Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art is home to some of the most important art collections in the country while car lovers should not miss the Automobile Museum.
Automobile Museum (Museo dell'Automobile)
One of the largest car museums in the world, this museum is home to a collection of 170 vehicles ranging from 18th-century cars to modern Formula 1 racers. Fiat cars can be seen in abundance here, mainly because the company was part-funded by the local Agnelli family. However, the main attraction is the 1907 Itala which won the Peking to Paris race in 44 days. Phone: +39 11 677 666.
Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GAM) Founded in 1863, GAM holds some of the most important art collections in the country with over 600 paintings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Artists whose works are exhibited include: Warhol, Paul Klee, Max Ernst, Gino Severini, Giorgio de Chirico and Modigliani. www.gamtorino.it/index.php?lang=1.
Egyptian Museum This museum details the history of Egypt from the Palaeolithic to the Coptic period and has one of the most extensive and impressive collections of Egyptian artefacts outside of Cairo. It was founded by King Carlo Felice in 1824 and boasts over 30,000 items, making it the second biggest Egyptian museum in the world. The Tomb of Kha can be found here, which dates back to 3,500 BC, and you can also see the Drovetti Collection, with over 98 statues and the Royal Papyrus. www.museoegizio.it/pages/hp_en.jsp.
Faà di Bruno Museum This museum is dedicated to the life of Italian mathematician and priest Francesco Faà di Bruno. It is a collection of his technical and scientific work from the 19th century with highlights including the telescope of Foucault and a number of different inventions such as a desk for the blind and a tool which demonstrates the moon’s different phases. Phone: +39 11 489 145.
Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi This palace is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The building is a hunting lodge and is home to a museum displaying arts and furnishings which once belonged to the Savoys. The gardens surrounding the palace are stunning and boast some rare plant and animal life. Phone: +39 11 358 1220.
Turin is noted around the world for its cuisine and this can be seen in the 800 restaurants found across the city. Establishments range from small, local eateries to large, international restaurants offering gourmet food. There is not one specific area dedicated to restaurants, as most eateries are spread out across the city. However, if you are in the city centre, you will not have any trouble finding somewhere to eat.
Popular local dishes include tajarin, agnolotti and cappelletti, all of which are pasta dishes. Cheese is a popular after dinner treat and is usually eaten with stirà, or breadsticks. Turin is famous for its chocolate; it is considered to be the creator of the chocolate bar. Because if this, the chocolate desserts here are a must-try.
As a shopping destination, Turin does not lay claim to as many designer shops and upmarket boutiques as other Italian cities such as Milan and Rome, but there is a good selection to choose from. If you are looking for designer gear, the best place to head is Via Roma, a road close to the main railway station. This is where most of the designer boutiques can be found as well as many high street stores. Via Garibaldi is regarded as being the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe and is a magnet for shoppers while alternative items can be found on Via Po.
Porta Palazzo is a large market in Piazza della Republica and is perfect for inexpensive gifts, food and souvenirs. However, if it is food you are after, the Farmer’s Market in Piazza Palazzo di Città without doubt offers the best in local ingredients. It is held on the first Sunday of the month.
Fairly near railway station and public transport. Walk from station from Via Nizza down via Berthollet caused a little uneasyness at night but it was easy to reach the holtel from Corso Vittorio Em...
