Italy has so many beautiful, and historically and artistically important cities, that Turin has somehow garnered a reputation as a bit grim and industrial — but “Undeserved!” call our Gurus, waving dramatically towards the green and graceful boulevards lined with Art Nouveau cafes and Baroque palazzos — some of which they now also recommend as the best places to stay in Turin. If you’ve discounted Turin in the past, now is the time to consider its grande dame hotels, fashionable city break apartments, elegant palazzo conversions. and contemporary art hotels. Our Gurus also have a few recommendations outside the centre of town, if you’re looking for a base for exploring the whole of the Piedmont region.
Don’t be ashamed if your main cultural references to Turin come from the film The Italian Job. There’s plenty of truth to it: Turin is the home of Fiat, and for years they did actually test their zippy little numbers on a rooftop track atop their architectural landmark of a factory! Turin is a city rich in architectural variety arranged along a series of squares and boulevards; and Turin does have a daily food market which brims with truffles, cheeses, porcini, prosciutto, salami, bread, and hard chocolate — Turin was the first place to produce saleable hard chocolate. So it’s definitely one for the foodies. Piedmont has more than 50 Michelin-starred restaurants, and you’ll find plenty of great places to eat the local cuisine, including in the restaurants of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Turin.
Some of the things The Italian Job doesn’t show are the questionable Holy Shroud, the Automobile Museum, the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Cinema, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. And it only offers fleeting shots of the Piazza San Carlo, Basilica di Superga, Palazzo Reale and Piazza Carignano. Turin is also something of a centre for Italian fashion and design, and we definitely recommend the best places to stay in Turin to hip city breakers looking for fresh pastures.
