Why Visit Turin:

Turin, or Torino, is an interesting and often overlooked city in the Piedmont (Piemonte) region of Italy. Famous for the Shroud of Turin and Fiat auto plants, the city has a lot more to offer. From its Baroque cafes and architecture to its arcaded shopping promenades and museums, Turin is a great city for wandering and exploring. It also makes a good base for exploring nearby mountains and valleys.

Turin Location and Transportation:

Turin is in the northwest of Italy in the Piemonte region between the Po River and the foothills of the Alps.

Turin is served by a small airport, Citta di Torino - Sandro Pertini, with flights to and from Europe. The closest airport for flights from the United States is in Milan, a little over an hour away by train.

Trains and intercity buses provide transportation to and from Turin from other towns. The main railway station is Porta Nuova in the center at Piazza Carlo Felice.

The Porta Susa Station serves trains to and from Milan and is connected to the city center and the main station by bus.

Turin has an extensive network of trams and buses that run from 5AM until midnight. There are also electric mini-buses in the city center. Bus and tram tickets can be bought in a tabacchi shop..

Tourist Information and Discount Cards:

Tourist offices are at the Porta Nuova Railway Station and the airport. The main office is in Piazza Castello and there is also one in Piazza Solferino. See Turin and Piedmont Card for information about discount passes and the ChocoPass for chocolate tastings. Buy Turin + Piedmont Cards online in US dollars through Select Italy.

Food Specialties:

The Piedmont region has some of the best food in Italy. Over 160 types of cheese and famous wines like Barolo and Barbaresco come from here as do truffles, plentiful in fall. You'll find outstanding pastries, especially chocolate ones. Chocolate for eating as we know it today (bars and pieces) originated in Turin. The chocolate-hazelnut sauce, gianduja, is a specialty. 

Festivals:

Turin celebrates its patron saint in the Festa di San Giovanni June 24 with events all day and a huge fireworks display at night. There's a big chocolate festival in March and several music and theater festivals in summer and fall. During the Christmas season there's a 2-week street market and on New Year's Eve an open-air concert in the main piazza.

Turin was host for the 2006 Winter Olympics with events in town and in seven nearby localities. The awards ceremonies took place in Piazza Castello, integrating Italian history and piazza culture with the Olympics.