Turin

Turin, the historic capital of Piedmont, lies on the banks of the River Po at the foot of the Alps, offering an elegant urban setting that blends baroque and industrial architecture. The city is known for its long arcaded streets, home to historic cafés, shops and patisseries where local specialities such as bicerin and gianduiotto chocolates can be sampled. The Museo Egizio, one of the world's most significant Egyptian collections after Cairo's, and the Mole Antonelliana, housing the National Cinema Museum, are among its principal landmarks. Piazza Castello and the Palazzo Reale reflect the city's past as capital of the Kingdom of Savoy. Turin also played a major role in Italy's industrial history through Fiat, whose former Lingotto factory has since been converted into a shopping and cultural centre. The Parco del Valentino, with its castle and riverside setting, is popular for walks, while the Porta Palazzo market, one of the largest in Europe, reflects the city's everyday vibrancy. Close to the mountains, Turin also serves as a convenient base for excursions into the surrounding Alpine valleys.