Turin – Centro-Crocetta

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Centro-Crocetta is the central and oldest part of Turin, which coincides with the administrative subdivision called Circoscrizione 1. This area houses many of the most important landmarks of the city and it includes the Quadrilatero Romano, where the ancient Roman town of Augusta Taurinorum once stood. Crocetta is the area just south of the historical center of the city, and it is a mostly residential neighborhood developed during the 19th century.

✪ Royal Palace of Turin

The Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale di Torino) is a large historic palace and former residence of the Savoy family in the center of Turin. The building was erected during the 17th century and its halls are richly adorned with many Baroque and Neoclassical decorations and artworks. The palace is at the center of a museum complex known as Musei Reali, which includes various other historic locations, such as the vast Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali) that surround the northern side of the Royal Palace. Part of the complex of the Musei Reali are also the Royal Armoury (Armeria Reale), one of the largest collection of historic weapons in the world, and the rich Royal Library (Biblioteca Reale), which houses hundreds of thousands of ancient books and documents, including the alleged self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. The palace includes the art collection of the Galleria Sabauda, which hosts hundreds of paintings spanning from the Late Middle Ages to the 20th century once belonging to the Savoy family. The archaeological museum called Museo di Antichità is also part of the complex, and it displays a collection of findings from Piedmont along with ancient artifacts from other regions. The Musei Reali also includes Palazzo Chiablese, a historic building adjacent to the Royal Palace now housing offices of the Ministry of Culture.

✪ Turin Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista)

The Turin Cathedral (Duomo di Torino) is the most important religious site in Turin and the only Renaissance church in the city. The building was erected in the late 15th century on the site of a previous church, and it is adjacent to the Royal Palace. The Cathedral houses various Renaissance and Baroque artworks and it also hosts a museum of religious art called Diocesan Museum of Turin (Museo Diocesano di Torino). The most important feature of the Turin Cathedral is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (Cappella della Sindone), erected in the 17th century to house the Shroud of Turin (Sindone di Torino). The chapel, located between the Cathedral and the Royal Palace, was designed by Guarino Guarini and it is considered a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. The structure was damaged by a fire in 1997 and it was reopened in 2018, after the end of the restoration works.

✪ Church of San Lorenzo

The Church of San Lorenzo is a Baroque church adjacent to Palazzo Chiablese and the complex of the Royal Palace of Turin. The current structure was erected in the 17th century and designed by architect Guarino Guarini. The interior of the church is richly adorned with various artworks, but it is mostly famous for its dome. The dome of the Church of San Lorenzo is supported by eight intersecting arches that, along with a series of windows and geometrical features, form shapes resembling angry faces, known as “face of the devil” (“faccia del diavolo”).

✪ Palazzo Madama e Casaforte degli Acaja

Palazzo Madama e Casaforte degli Acaja is a large palace located in the middle of Piazza Castello, in front of the Royal Palace of Turin. The site was originally occupied by an ancient Roman gate that was turned into a fortified residence by the Acaja family in the Late Middle Ages. The castle later became the residence of the Savoy family, and it was heavily reworked in the 18th century adding a large Baroque facade, designed by Filippo Juvarra, and many richly decorated halls. Between 1848 and 1861 Palazzo Madama hosted the Senate of the Kingdom of Sardinia and it was then the first seat of the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy until 1865. The palace now houses the Turin City Museum of Ancient Art (Museo Civico d’Arte Antica di Torino), a collection of artworks mostly dating from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

✪ Mole Antonelliana

The Mole Antonelliana is a monumental building and the most recognizable landmark of Turin. Originally erected as a synagogue in the late 19th century, it was gradually raised until reaching its final height of 167.5 meters, making it the tallest building in the city for decades. Its peculiar eclectic architecture and imposing size quickly made the Mole Antonelliana the symbol of Turin. An elevator allows visitors to access the Tempietto, a small temple-like structure located under the spire. The Mole Antonelliana now houses the National Museum of Cinema (Museo Nazionale del Cinema), an important museum on the history of cinema and motion pictures.

✪ Egyptian Museum of Turin

The Egyptian Museum of Turin (Museo Egizio di Torino) is an archaeological museum housing one of the largest collections of Ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world, and considered the second most important museum of Egyptology behind only the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, in Egypt. The museum was founded in 1824 to host the already rich collection of artifacts acquired by the Savoy family over the previous two centuries, and it has since grown gathering thousands of other findings. The collection includes some of the most important Ancient Egyptian artifacts and documents, such as the Turin King List (Papiro dei Re), which allowed to compile a chronology of the rulers of Ancient Egypt. The museum also houses the Temple of Ellesyia (Tempio di Ellesija), one of the ancient temples relocated outside of Egypt during the building of the Aswan Dam.

✪ Palazzo Carignano

Palazzo Carignano is a large Baroque palace in the center of Turin, erected in the 17th century as the residence of the Princes of Carignano. The palace hosted the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Sardinia between 1848 and 1861, and then the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Italy until 1865. The rear facade of the building was erected in the 19th century and it faces Piazza Carlo Alberto, a pedestrian square featuring an equestrian statue of Charles Albert of Sardinia. Palazzo Carignano now hosts the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento (Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano), the most important museum dedicated to the Italian Risorgimento, which houses a collection of objects showcasing the military history of Turin and Italy between the 18th and 20th century.

✪ Piazza San Carlo

Piazza San Carlo is one of the most important squares of Turin, built in the 17th century just south of the oldest part of the city. The square is known for the two twin Baroque churches that stand at its southern end, the Church of Santa Cristina and the Church of San Carlo Borromeo. Both churches feature many rich decorations and various artworks. The plaza is surrounded by other historic buildings such as the Rococo Palazzo Solaro del Borgo to the east, while the center is adorned with the Equestrian Monument of Emmanuel Philibert (Monumento a Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia), a bronze statue completed in 1838.

✪ Turin Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art

The Turin Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino) is one of the most important museums of modern and contemporary art in Italy. Originally founded in the late 19th century, the museum was moved to its current building in 1959. The collection is composed of over 47,000 pieces, including works by artists such as Canova, Picasso, Modigliani, De Chirico, Warhol, and many more.

Teatro Regio

Teatro Regio is one of the main opera houses in Italy, located near Palazzo Madama in Piazza Castello. Originally erected in the 18th century, it was destroyed by a fire in 1936, and only reopened in 1973. The theater has hosted many important directors and it was the site of the world premiere of La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini.

Porta Palatina

A few ruins of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Taurinorum can be seen in the Archaeological Park Torri Palatine (Parco Archeologico Torri Palatine), just east of the Royal Palace and the Cathedral. The most notable of the ancient ruins is Porta Palatina, a large city gate erected in the 1st century BCE. Despite being abandoned for centuries and only restored since the 20th century, Porta Palatina is one of best preserved city gates of its time. The park also hosts other Roman ruins such as a section of the ancient walls and the Roman Theater of Turin.

Church of San Domenico

The Church of San Domenico is one of the most important medieval buildings in Turin, built in Gothic style during the 13th century. This is the only surviving Gothic church in the city, and some of its chapels feature a rich series of frescoes dating from the Late Middle Ages, among various other historic artworks.

Museum of Oriental Art of Turin

The Museum of Oriental Art of Turin (Museo d’Arte Orientale) is one of the richest museums of Asian art in Italy. Its collection includes thousands of interesting objects, artworks, and archaeological findings from Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, spanning several millennia from the Neolithic until today.

Santuario della Consolata

The Santuario della Consolata is one of the oldest and most important religious sites in Turin. It has its origins in the Paleochristian age, and it was expanded numerous times. The renovation works that took place with Guarini and Juvarra during the 17th and 18th century gave the church many Baroque features, while its current appearance dates from the early 20th century. The complicated history of the sanctuary is reflected in its unique collection of artworks and decorations from different eras.

Holy Shroud Museum

The Holy Shroud Museum (Museo della Sindone) is a museum dedicated to the history of the Holy Shroud, which is kept inside the Turin Cathedral. The exhibit is located in the crypt of the Church of the Holy Shroud (Chiesa del Santo Sudario), a Baroque church erected during the 18th century.

Polo del ‘900

Polo del ‘900 is a cultural center dedicated to the history of Turin during the 20th century. Housed in a series of former military buildings, it hosts various cultural institutions, a rich library and archives, and various permanent and temporary exhibitions, mostly focused on the Italian resistance and fight against fascism in World War II.

Teatro Carignano

Teatro Carignano is one of the most important theaters in Italy, erected next to Palazzo Carignano in the 18th century. Over its long history, the theater has been renovated a few times, and it has hosted many plays and operas by some of the most prominent directors, actors, and musicians of their time.

Turin National University Library

The Turin National University Library (Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria di Torino) is one of the richest libraries in Italy, hosting hundreds of thousands of ancient books and documents. The library was founded in 1720 and it is located in a historic palace facing Piazza Carlo Alberto and Palazzo Carignano.

Museum of Radio and Television

The Museum of Radio and Television (Museo della Radio e della Televisione) is an exhibit on the history of radio and television located in the production center of Rai, the national public broadcasting company of Italy. The collection houses objects spanning from 19th-century telegraphs to modern DVDs.

Art Gallery of Albertina Academy of Fine Arts

The Albertina Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti) is a fine arts academy fouded in the 17th century. Its art gallery (Pinacoteca) houses various paintings dating between the Renaissance and the 20th century, along with copies of some famous artworks.

Accorsi-Ometto Museum

The Accorsi-Ometto Museum (Museo Accorsi-Ometto) is the oldest museum of decorative arts in Italy. The collection includes thousands of decorated antiques and porcelains, but also furnishings, tapestries, and paintings, mostly dating from the 18th and 19th century.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto

Piazza Vittorio Veneto is one of the largest squares in Turin, surrounded by porticoes and historic buildings. The eastern side of the square faces the Po river, ending with the 19th-century Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I. The square is also connected with the historic riverside docks and arches called Murazzi del Po.

Church of San Filippo Neri

The Church of San Filippo Neri is the largest church in Turin, located next to the Egyptian Museum. It was erected in Baroque style between the 17th and 18th century and later expanded with a Neoclassical facade. The church houses several artworks and it hosts the Museo Internazionale delle Arti Applicate Oggi, a museum of applied arts featuring some historic art pieces.

Church of the Holy Martyrs

The Church of the Holy Martyrs (Chiesa dei Santi Martiri) is a Baroque church in the center of Turin. The building was erected between the 16th and 18th century and it features numerous elaborate decorations and various relics. Adjacent to the church is the Chapel of the Merchants (Cappella dei Mercanti), a richly frescoed chapel now used as a concert hall.

Piazza Solferino

Piazza Solferino is one of the largest squares in Turin, adorned with many trees and statues. One of the main landmarks in the plaza is the Fontana Angelica, an elaborate fountain completed in 1930 with statues representing the four seasons. The 19th-century Teatro Vittorio Alfieri, one of the main theaters in the city, overlooks this square.

Pietro Micca Museum

The Pietro Micca Museum (Museo Pietro Micca) is a museum of military history mostly focused on the 1706 siege of Turin, in which the Piedmontese troops resisted and defeated the French army. The museum is dedicated to Pietro Micca, who sacrificed himself to stop the French soldiers from entering the tunnels under the city’s fortifications.

Piazza Statuto

Piazza Statuto is a large square located on the western side of the center of Turin. The square was built just after the Italian unification in 1861 and dedicated to the Statuto Albertino, the 1848 constitution of the Kingdom of Sardinia. Piazza Statuto is surrounded by various historic buildings and adorned with some monuments.