Gran Torino

For whatever reason, Turin doesn't really register with national or international tourists. Italians believe the city has little to offer beyond Fiats and football, and even the most worldly of North Americans can barely recall that the '06 Winter Olympics took place here. But Turin, which briefly served as Italy's first capital, is an elegant old town full of expansive piazzi and boulevards, all lined with Baroque buildings and porticoes that house a bevy of landmarks, museums and galleries. Located in the heart of Piedmont, one of the finest food and wine regions in what is arguably the world's finest food and wine country, Turin is also a Slow Food hot spot that is equally renowned for its cafe culture and aperitivo scene, and above all, its chocolate. We would need at least a week to see (and taste!) all the sights (and specialities!) that Turin has to offer... And we only had a day.

We arrived mid-afternoon from Cogne, and decided to make Eataly our first (lunch) stop. Known as the Slow Food movement's supermarket, Eataly—which has spawned a Mario Batali marketplace in NYC—houses a staggering array of artisanal food and wine products, as well as restaurants specializing in cheese, breads, pastas, meats, fish and much more.

Lost in thought in Eataly

A trip to Turin wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Mole Antonelliana, whose distinctive dome and spire appear on the Italian two-cent coin, so that's where he headed next. The building, designed by eccentric engineer-architect Alessandro Antontelli, is pretty wacky, and is home to a glass panoramic lift (suspended only by cables!) that brings visitors up 85 metres onto the roof terrace for a spectacular 360-degree view of the city and its surroundings, the snow-capped Alps.

Mara and the Mole

Mole Antonelliana

For the rest of the afternoon and evening, we strolled along the streets and squares of Turin, stopping to sample gianduiotti (a chocolatey-hazelnut concoction), gelato (from the first-ever Grom) and stuzzichini (snacks served with drinks) as the urge hit. 

Turin by day

Turin by night

The following morning, we headed slightly out of town to check out the Reggia de Veneria Reale, a Unesco-listed palace and one of the biggest royal residences in the world, that is often likened to Versailles (but without the hordes of tourists). 

Reggia di Venaria Reale

Galleria di Diana, Reggia di Venaria Reale