Turin's Best Museums
Day Note:
This morning start at Via Accademia delle Scienza, 6. Here you will find two of Turin's greatest museums the Museo Egizio, where you'll find an extraordinary selection of archeological artefacts and the Galleria Sabauda with its great art collection. Lunch at Arcadia in the Galleria Subalpina about five minutes away in Piazza Castello, before heading to Piazetta Carlo Alberto to the site of Italy's first parliament at the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento. This...
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Museo Egizio
Contact:
- +39 011 561 7776
- visit website
Location:
- Via Accademia delle Scienze 6
- Palazzo dell'Accademia delle Scienze
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Map
Description:
Second only to the museum in Cairo, the Museo Egizio was founded in 1924. From then, the museum has expanded and now holds over 30,000 pieces, many of which are discoveries from the Italian Archeological Mission in the last century. 5000 years of art, religion, and daily life in the time of the Pharaohs are illustrated here through real treasures including the black statue of Ramses II, the book of death, the tomb of Kha and Merit, and the rocky temple of Ellesiya. Various cultural events happen here from time to time. Check website for more details.
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Galleria Sabauda
Contact:
- +39 011 440 6903
- visit website
Location:
- Via Accademia delle Scienze 6
- Palazzo dell'Accademia delle Scienze
- Turin,Piedmont10123
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Map
Description:
Located within the Palazzo dell'Accademia delle Scienze, the Galleria Sabauda was established by 1832 King Carlo Alberto in 1832. Some 28 years later the Galleria was handed over to the State by Victor Emmanuel II and now contains a fine collection of paintings including the royal art collections amassed by the House of Savoy. There is work by local Piemontese artists and from other Italian schools such as Lombard, Venetian, and Emilian as well as the prestigious paintings from the Flemish, Dutch, and Northern Schools.
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Arcadia
Contact:
- +39 (0) 11 56 13 898
- visit website
Location:
- Galleria Subalpina, Piazza Castello
- Turin,Piedmont10123
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Map
Description:
Arcadia, located in Galleria dell'Industria Subalpina one of the picturesque galleries of last century urbanization in the heart of the city has set up an interesting formula offering a double choice. You can eat Japanese or taste a revised new Piedmontese cuisine which uses classic ingredients from the area prepared in a lighter and creative way. How would you like to try Sformato di Castelmagno; (a Langhe cheese) with lettuce cream? The result is appealing.
Day Note:
Let's start where we finished off yesterday at Piazza Castello. Today is going to be a little more eclectic! So first we will head to the centre of Piazza Castello and Palazzo Madama, reopened in 2006 this fantastic baroque building hosts the Museo Civico d'Arte Antica di Torino. A short walk down the porticoed Via Po leads to the junction with Via Montebello, take a left here, and soon the sight of Turin's most iconic building, the Mole Antonelliana comes...
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Palazzo Madama
Contact:
- +39 011 443 3501
- visit website
Location:
- Piazza Castello
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Map
Description:
The Palazzo Madama is situated in the centre of Piazza Castello, with its facade facing Via Garibaldi. It takes its name from the two Royal Dames who lived here, Maria Cristina and Giovanna Battista. During past centuries, it was the home of the Savoy family, as well as the site of the signing of important treaties, and the seat of the Italian Senate when Turin was the country's capital. Today it houses the Antica Museum of Art. Its historical date is somewhat difficult to determine because it has been continually reconstructed throughout its history. The oldest part is the Roman Porta Pretoria. The back of the building dates to a thirteenth century castle which can still be seen in the two towers situated at each corners. The typically baroque facade was built in the seventeenth century by the architect Filippo Juvarra. The internal staircase is also attributed to him and is one of the best examples of the Piedmontese baroque style.
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Museo del Cinema
Contact:
- +39 011 813 8560
- visit website
Location:
- Via Montebello 20
- Turin,Piedmont10124
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Map
Description:
Founded in 1941 by Maria Adriana Prolo, the Museo Nazionale del Cinema is a delight to behold. Of course, the most appealing sight is the building that houses the museum: the Mole Antonelliana. An unusual structure, this architectural marvel is definitely a sight to see for its architectural details. Inside the museum, a whole new world of treasure awaits you. This museum boasts collections that would pique the interests of the most avid cinema-lover. Among the collections are photographs, archives, posters, films and a lot more, pertaining to the history of Italian as well as World Cinema. Do visit this museum and find out for yourself why it is one of the most preferred museums for visitors. See the website for more information.
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Museo di Arti Decorative
Contact:
- +39 011 837 6883
- visit website
Location:
- Via Po 55
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Map
Description:
The Museo di Arti Decorative is the pride and joy of the Accorsi Foundation, founded in December 1999, as requested in the will of the great torinese antiques dealer Pietro Accorsi. All the details of an aristocratic, piedmontese residence of the eighteenth century are reconstructed in the rooms of this historic building which was designed by Amedeo Castellamonte. The collection is the fruit of decades of research from all over Italy. Particularly outstanding exhibits are a Madonna from the fifteenth century and six Empire style chairs which were a wedding present for Paolina Bonaparte.
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Porto di Savona
Contact:
- +39 011 817 3500
- visit website
Location:
- Piazza Vittorio Veneto 2
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Map
Description:
What is probably the most popular trattoria in Turin is tucked under the arcades along the city's largest piazza. Seating is family style, at long tables that crowd a series of rooms beneath old photos and mementos, and the typically Piemontese fare never fails to please (all the more so on Sun, when many other restaurants in central Turin are closed). Several variations of gnocchi are usually made fresh daily, as is the Piemontese flat noodle, tajarin, and pasticcio, a pasta casserole with meat and cream. Another way to start a meal is with some variation of porcini mushrooms, which are served in many different variations, perhaps best when simply sautéed. These starters can be nicely followed with a grilled meat dish -- a house specialty.
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Museo dell' Automobile
Contact:
- 0039 (0) 11 16 77 666
- visit website
Location:
- Corso Unita d'Italia 40
- Turin,Piedmont10126
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Map
Description:
As befits a city that is responsible for 80% of Italian car manufacturing, this shiny collection of mostly Italian automobiles, housed in a purpose-built, light-filled exhibition hall of classic 1960s design, draws car buffs from all over the world. Not too surprisingly, a century's worth of output from Fiat, which is headquartered in Turin, is well represented. The collection includes most of the cars that have done Italy proud over the years, including Lancias, Isotta Frashinis, and the Itala that came in first place in the 1907 Peking-to-Paris rally. Oddities include a roadster emblazoned with the initials ND that Gloria Swanson drove for her role as faded movie queen Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Note: The museum is closed for restorations until the end of 2008.
