Wonderful Turin -Mention Turin and most people will think of industry and prosperity.It is certainly an economic powerhouse but it is also a town of grace and charm,with superb Baroque architecture,elegant arcades of shops and excellent museums set against the dramatic scenery of the foothills of the Alps.Turin is also,of course,home to the famous Shroud,the Fiat car company and the Juventus football team.Turin boasts numerous interesting museums,often housed in splendid palazzi and civic buildings.The centre itself is fairly small,with broad,straight streets,many lined with historic cafes and shops.The Polo Reale,which includes the Palazzo Reale,Museo Archaeologico,Galleria Sabauda,Biblioteca Reale,Armeria Reale,Royal Gardens and Palazzo Chiablese,gives an insight into the importance of the House of Savoy.

Turin’s architecture mirrors the city’s transition from monarchic power to industrial power.Witness the ostentation of the Baroque apartments of the Savoy family in Palazzo Reale,and contrast them with the futuristic Mole Antonelliana,a tall structure that heralded the dawn of the modern industrial age.Much of Turin’s history in the 20th century has been dominated by the motor car;Fiat is synonymous with Turin.For the curious, the city’s extensive motor museum is worth a visit,since it maps out the history of Italian car design. (Contact us if more than 3 passengers)