What to see in Turin in 1 day

Turin extends in a checkerboard of broad streets and elegant squares, the first capital of Italy, with the Alps visible on the horizon in clear weather.

Between historic cafés, Baroque arcades, and an Egyptian museum second only to Cairo's in the world, a single day is enough to grasp the Savoyard soul of the city.

Piazza Castello deserves the morning hours: the city's central square, surrounded by Palazzo Madama and Palazzo Reale, for centuries the seat of the House of Savoy, encapsulates much of the dynasty's history that ruled over unified Italy.

A short walk leads to the Egyptian Museum, which with its collection second only to Cairo holds artefacts ranging from pyramids to papyri, housed in a modern design internationally acclaimed.

Continuing along via Roma, the arcaded street linking Piazza Castello to Piazza San Carlo, you traverse the arcades that make Turin walkable even on rainy days.

For lunch, the historic cafés around Piazza San Carlo, such as those that birthed vermouth and bicerin, offer a taste of Turin's café tradition.

The Mole Antonelliana, the city's symbolic monument, houses the National Cinema Museum, with a panoramic lift reaching the top for a view over the Alps.

Along the Po, the Valentino Park instead preserves its medieval village rebuilt for the 1884 Italian General Exposition.

The Roman Quadrilateral, with its narrow Roman-origin streets full of venues, remains the most convenient zone to dine without straying far from the centre.

Piazza Castello, the Egyptian Museum, and Via Roma allow you to grasp Turin's Savoy soul, while the afternoon choice between the Mole Antonelliana and Parco del Valentino adds its monumental or natural side.

The Royal Palace of Venaria, just outside the city, and the automobile and Risorgimento museums remain chapters for a second visit. Seeing the Alps loom at the end of Via Roma on clear days sums up Turin in a single vista.