Turin
Turin, between ancient heritage and the good life 🏛️☕
Before becoming Italian, Turin was the capital of the Kingdom of Savoy for several centuries. It was from here that the Savoy family ruled one of the most influential states in Europe, between France, Switzerland and Italy. This status as capital has left a strong imprint: palaces, large squares, regular avenues, royal galleries... Turin was designed to be beautiful and functional, but without excess. When Italy united in 1861, Turin became the country's first capital, ahead of Florence and Rome.
Today, this history can still be seen in the architecture: sober but elegant facades, monumental squares, covered arcades that cross the entire city. Piazza Castello, lined with palaces and museums, is often the starting point, followed by Via Po down to the river. The Parco del Valentino, right on the banks of the Po, is perfect for a break in the middle of the city. And if you want to get a bit of height, climb Monte dei Cappuccini: from up there, the view of the rooftops and the Alps is magnificent.
Turin is home to several major museums. The Mole Antonelliana, symbol of the city, is home to the Museum of Cinema, with its immersive staging. A few streets away, the Egyptian Museum boasts one of the world's largest collections, second only to that in Cairo. But Turin is also home to independent galleries and alternative cultural venues, often housed in former workshops in the Aurora district.
☕ Here, coffee is part of everyday life, as is the aperitif. Vermouth was invented in Turin in 1786 by Antonio Benedetto Carpano. This herbal wine quickly became a classic, still a fixture in bars and cafés. It can be enjoyed on its own or in cocktails, often accompanied by a few olives. For a sweeter break, bicerin, a warm blend of chocolate, coffee and cream, can be enjoyed at Caffè Al Bicerin, opposite the della Consolata church. Historic establishments such as Mulassano and Baratti & Milano also retain the charm of old Turin.
🍽️ When it comes to cuisine, Piedmont is a region of tradition. In Turin, you'll find agnolotti, tajarin with sage butter, vitello tonnato and bagna cauda. To discover this seasonal cuisine using local produce, several restaurants are working hard: Ristorante Consorzio, Osteria Rabezzana and Trebicchieri, all committed to the slow-food approach that began a few kilometers away in Bra.
🚆 Turin can be reached by train from Zurich or Brig via Milan, where you have to change trains. A perfect city for a weekend between strolls under the arcades, Piedmontese cuisine and vermouth on the terrace.
What's included / excluded
Your accommodation
Combo Turin
Just steps from the Porta Palazzo market, Combo Torino is housed in a former 19th-century fire station. The building has been completely restored, retaining its original character and volume. Through the large interior courtyard, you enter an open, welcoming space, designed as a living space rather than just a place to stay.
Here, you can sleep in a bright dormitory, a private room, or even a tatami room: a minimalist space, without a bed but with mattresses on the floor, in the Japanese spirit, for a simple and peaceful night. The furniture is designed by artisans from Piedmont, the materials are local, and everything is designed to last.
Combo is also committed to the environment: intelligent LED lighting, reduced use of plastic, fresh produce and short circuits in its restaurant, where the menu changes according to the seasons and the nearby market.
But what makes Combo so charming is its cultural spirit. Every week, exhibitions, concerts, screenings, and meetings are organized there. The local radio station has its studio there, and the hostel also houses an independent bookstore. It's a vibrant, lived-in place, rooted in its neighborhood.
Combo is therefore much more than a bed for the night: it is a way of experiencing Turin differently, at your own pace, in a place where travel, creation, and sharing intersect.
Turin
Are you interested in this offer but the dates don't suit you? Would you like to go on your own or with more people? Write to us and we'll check the possibilities.
Carbon footprint of this trip
44x less kg of CO2 by train
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