With the famous Fiat factory owned by the Agnelli family, Turin has a reputation for being industrial and built-up in the same way as its near neighbour Milan. Yet a trip to the Northern Italian city will change any visitor’s mind, the Alps providing a stunning backdrop to the Baroque architecture worthy of any picture postcard.
Manchester United supporters will travel to the city for Wednesday evening’s Champions League clash with the Old Lady, and what follows is a guide on what to see and do on a short trip.
Sights
The centre of Turin is fairly compact and walkable, the grid-like system easy to navigate. The highest and most distinctive landmark is the Mole Antonelliana, constructed as a synagogue in 1863. Never actually used as a place of worship, the 167m tall tower now houses the National Cinema Museum, and a trip up to the top gives stunning panoramic views of the city and indeed the Alps.
A walk around the centre is also a must, the Piazza Vittorio Veneto simply stunning with its view down towards the River Po and the Gran Madre di Dio church. It was down these steps that Charlie Croker (aka Michael Caine) and his gang of thieves drove three Mini Coopers full of stolen gold bullion in The Italian Job, a site well worth a look for those who remember it.
The square itself is the largest in Europe, surrounded by portici, covered walkways that prevented the Royal Family from getting wet when they walked there from Piazza Castello (more on that later) and there are plenty of nice restaurants and bars with a great view of this open space.
The aforementioned Piazza Castello is home to the Royal Palaces, once inhabited by the Savoy family and leads to Via Roma, the location of the main shopping street.
Food & Drink
Perhaps the most important category on the list is where Manchester United supporters can find the best places to eat and drink. All of the following places can be found via Google maps. Sfashion is a place with quirky decor that serves excellent wood-fired pizza, and Casa Slurp or Slurp Torino serve modern Italian cuisine.
Gramsci is, a place where the food and interior would make you think it is more expensive than it actually is and offers a delicious lunch. Lampara is a place frequented by footballers in the city, another restaurant that will not cost as much as a similar place in the UK.
Of all the places in Turin, perhaps the Huntsman is the best place for away fans to gather, a pub that serves draught beer but a much better standard of food than you would find in England.
Overall, the city centre is fairly friendly and any well-behaved supporters shouldn’t run into any problems.
Getting to the Stadium
Juventus stadium is quite a long way out of the city, therefore a taxi is probably recommended and will cost around €25, not a bad price between a group. Alternatively, the number nine tram from a stop named Bernini or 72 or 72B bus from Via Bertola will take you there, with either option accessible via a one-day GTT ticket that can be bought from any tobacconist.
Those same public transport options will be available for reaching the centre after the match, probably the best option with availability of taxis limited.
If you have other questions about Turin ahead of Wednesday’s match, feel free to send me a Tweet @ChloeJBeresford and I’ll do my best to answer them!
