Turin

The Italian movie industry was born in Turin, and for this reason the country’s largest film museum is located here. You will find it inside the Mole Antonelliana — a tall brick building from the top of which you can enjoy a magnificent view. It is a museum, but not in the traditional sense. Numerous interactive activities and unforeseen exhibitions can be admired and experienced. An absolute must for cinephiles, but also great for families and kids.

Basilica of Superga was built by the orders of Duke Vittorio Amedeo II, in the 18th century. It is infamous for being the place where the plane carrying the soccer team Toro crashed during the 1940s. Superga is located on top of the hill bordering Turin, from where you have a wonderful view of both the city and the Alps. To get there, you can take a bus, a mountain railway or a long-distance footpath, hence it is also the ideal destination for a hike during a clear day. Turin is surrounded by almost 700 km of hiking paths. The Basilica di Superga, along with the Victory Lighthouse at Colle della Maddalena, is one of the most popular destinations for hiking and trekking tours of the region.

Palazzo Reale was the residential estate of the Savoy family until 1861. Today, it hosts various galleries and museums. In the main building of the palace you can admire magnificent objects from the Baroque and Rococo periods, besides the stunning architectural structure of the estate itself. Palazzo Reale is located on Piazza Castello, one of the two main squares of the city.

Parco del Valentino is an big public park right in the city centre, next to the river Po. Colourful flower beds, a small stream with wooden bridges and monumental fountains create a peaceful oasis in the midst of the city. During spring and summer you can chill all day long and well into the evening. The stately Castello del Valentino is the focal point of the park. Within the park, you'll find Borgo Medievale — an open air museum and reconstructed medieval village and castle. Also, do check the latest exhibition in Promotrice delle Belle Arti and see what's in bloom at the Museo dell'Orto Botanico.

Solely dedicated to Egyptian Art, this museum is second only to the one located in Cairo. The wide collection here housed is the result of years of expeditions. Indeed in the past the artefacts used to be shared between the country where they were found and the researchers. Let yourself be amazed by this trip to one of the most mystic ages of history.

There is a world hidden in Turin’s underground made of an extended system of tunnels built in the XVI century to resist the French siege. Tour Pietro Micca Museum to see in the same tunnels where the battle was fought. It is an inspiring trip to the past and a perfect occasion to see a one-of-a-kind military structure, but certainly it is not advisable for claustrophobics.

Piazza Vittorio is the main square of the city, and the biggest in Europe completely surrounded by arcades. It is located at the end of Via Po, overlooking the river and the bizarre church Gran Madre. Under its arches, the square houses restaurants, cafés and bars of all sorts, and by night it turns into one of the centres of Turin's movida. Don't miss a visit here by night, even just to admire its splendour enhanced by lights and shadows on the facades surrounding the square.

To experience direct contact with nature, visit Zoom, a few kilometres outside of Turin. This safari park is so much more than a normal zoo: you can admire different species like zebras, giraffes, rhinoceros up close, and you can even swim with penguins! Furthermore, the water park and Bolder Beach pool is an extension of the park, so you can buy a combined ticket for both attractions.

A visit to Sacra di San Michele is the perfect trip on a clear day. This basilica is of high religious importance and got its name from the archangel Michael. The interior is majestic and the surroundings are breath-taking, as is the path to reach it. If you don't feel like a long walk, you could also get to Sacra di San Michele by train, bus or car.

The Venaria Palace is a former residence of the Savoy family just outside Turin. The palace is one of the most beautiful royal residences in Europe. As such, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today it houses a big contemporary and fine art museum. You can admire the palace itself and the surrounding gardens, too. Large music events are often organised here, from classical music concerts to techno and house music festivals.

The National Museum of Automobile was founded in 1933, becoming one of the first automotive museums in the world. It hosts a very rare and fine collection of cars from Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the US and Poland. The exposition displays the brands of the past and present dating back to the middle of the 19th century, reaching approximately 200 models.