Discover Turin, Italy: A Hidden Travel Gem

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Year after year, Italy remains one of the most popular international destinations for American travelers. During the peak summer season, tourists from all over the United States flock to Rome, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and other Instagram hotspots.

But Turin is another incredible place in Italy that often gets overlooked. Known as Torino in Italian, this impressive city is the capital of the Piedmont region in the northwest (and was even the first capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century). Visitors to Turin can enjoy stunning mountain scenery, opulent palaces, world-class museums, and much more.

On the culinary front, the city has a vibrant restaurant scene, which was featured prominently in an episode of Stanley Tucci's food and travel show “Searching for Italy.” And as host of the 2006 Winter Olympics and two World Cups, Turin has plenty to offer sports and history buffs.

Despite its cultural prominence, Turin is somewhat overshadowed by its more famous counterparts, at least among American travelers. When I had the chance to visit last summer, I was immediately charmed by the city’s unpretentious elegance, the warm welcome of its people, and its sense of tranquility, far removed from the endless hordes of tourists that invade many other destinations in Italy at this time of year.

To encourage more travelers to add Turin to their Italy vacation itineraries, I've compiled my favorite foods, attractions, and other highlights of the “Città Magica.”

I visited Turin with a large group of friends and we stayed in an Airbnb It felt like our own mini-palace. Spanning three floors, the apartment was lavishly decorated with lots of wallpaper, upholstered furniture, framed artwork and other embellishments.

Travelers looking for a hotel experience will also find plenty of options. The Turin Palace Hotel is housed in a restored building right in the city center. The nearby Grand Hotel Sitea is a historic property with spacious rooms and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

For something with a more contemporary feel, the NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina is also a popular option.

Italian cuisine is renowned for being delicious, but it is by no means monolithic, which is why I always make a point of eating regional specialties wherever I travel in Italy.

In Turin, my favorite Piedmontese dish was tajarin, a rich, eggy pasta, usually served with truffles and butter or a local meat sauce called sugo d'arrosto. Another tasty specialty is meat-filled agnolotti.

Other classic dishes to try include vegetables dipped in bagna cauda, ​​a warm sauce made with garlic and anchovies, and crunchy breadsticks called grissini. While I wasn’t a huge fan, I’m glad I tried the vitello tonnato, thinly sliced ​​cold veal topped with a creamy tuna sauce.

My best meal in Turin was a delicious solo lunch at a restaurant called Tre Galli. I also enjoyed classic Turinese cuisine at Osteria al Tagliere and L'Osto del Borgh Vej. The Mercato Centrale Torino food hall offers something for everyone, which is perfect when traveling in a group. You might also want to take the time to visit the world's first-ever Eataly.

Spazio7 and Piola da Cianci also came highly recommended, as did the historic Caffè Platti and Caffè Mulassano. And to round off each meal with a sweet treat, look no further than Gelateria Pepino.

The Piedmont region is famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines, which pair well with many dishes or even as a key ingredient (as in brasato al Barolo or risotto al Barolo).

But no visit to Turin is truly complete without at least one bicerin. This decadent drink is made up of coffee, chocolate, and milk, perfectly layered in a way that screams to be photographed. I’m happy to report that it also tastes incredible.

My bicerin tasting journey took me to delicious and quaint establishments like Farmacia del Cambio, Caffe al Bicerin dal 1763, and Caffé Baratti & Milano.

I even tried an alcoholic version of the bicerin at Piano35, a lounge at the top of the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper. The breathtaking view alone was worth the trip, but the creative cocktails were an added bonus.

Casa Proseccheria was another nice spot for aperitifs, with plenty of offerings of prosecco, cocktails and snacks.

On my first morning in Turin, I started the day with a hike to the Santa Maria del Monte dei Cappuccini, a hilltop church with a great view of the city. I then visited another church, the Baroque-style San Lorenzo.

For a more original experience, you can visit the famous Basilica of Superga. And if you are passionate about royal history, you can also plan a visit to La Venaria Reale, a grand palace located outside the city and one of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites in the area.

To experience the city's grandiose architecture, tourists need not venture beyond Turin's city center. Piazza San Carlo, a majestic square surrounded by Baroque buildings, and Piazza Castello, home to the majestic Palazzo Madama Torino (now an art museum), are also worth a visit. The nearby Royal Palace of Turin transports visitors to the city's royal past.

The most iconic part of Turin is undoubtedly the Mole Antonelliana, which houses the cinema museum, the Museo Nazionale del Cinema. Another notable museum is the Museo Egizio, where history buffs can discover a vast collection of Egyptian artifacts.

Contemporary art lovers will appreciate the Castello di Rivoli, a former royal residence that now hosts avant-garde exhibitions in a restored 17th-century castle. Also not to be missed is the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli art gallery.

Those interested in the unification of Italy will want to explore the Museo del Risorgimento, which is housed in another famous ancient building, the Palazzo Carignano. And for a bit of ancient history, be sure to check out the Porta Palatina, a well-preserved gate dating back to the first century B.C.

In addition to my climb to the hilltop church, I also got to stretch my legs by strolling along the Po River and exploring the sprawling Valentino Park. The park is home to a number of notable attractions, including the famous Castello del Valentino and the Borgo Medievale, a reconstructed medieval village and open-air museum.

Turin is closely linked to the Italian automotive industry, with iconic brands such as Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo having their headquarters here. Unsurprisingly, it is also home to the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (National Automobile Museum).

And of course, sports fans should check the calendar to see if famous football club Juventus or rivals Torino have games scheduled during their stay in the area.

With so much to offer tourists of all ages and interests, Turin is a true hidden gem that captivates visitors with its incredible cuisine, deep history, and vibrant charm. While Americans flock to other parts of Italy, Turin visitors don’t need to book too far in advance to experience the rich cultural mosaic that makes the city so magical.