Turin city guide

Piazza Castello
The heart of the city since Roman times, Piazza Castello (castle square) is surrounded on three sides by arcades, each built during different periods, with the beautiful Palazzo Madama – a part-medieval, part-baroque castle begun in the 13th century on the site of the old Roman gate – as its centrepiece. The piazza's museums, theatres and cafes make it the hub of the old quarter.

Duomo di San Giovanni and Sacra Sindone
The 15th-century cathedral, dedicated to St John the Baptist, is a splendid piece of architecture, but the main attraction for visitors is the church's most famous relic: the Turin Shroud, alleged to be the burial cloth in which Jesus's body was wrapped. Although the real shroud is rarely on display, a copy can be seen to the left of the cathedral's altar.

Palazzo Reale
Adjacent to the cathedral is the former home of the House of Savoy. This eye-catching royal palace was constructed for Carlo Emanuele II around 1646. Boasting majestic throne rooms and magnificent private rooms, the Palazzo Reale is also home to the Galleria Sabauda: the personal art collection of the Savoy monarchs, which was amassed over 400 years.

Mole Antonelliana/Museo Nazionale del Cinema
Games between Juventus and Torino FC take their Derby della Mole name from the huge Mole Antonelliana, which stands 167m tall due to its distinctive aluminium spire. Originally intended as a synagogue, it now houses the national cinema museum, star attractions including Marilyn Monroe's black lace bustier, Peter O'Toole's robe from Lawrence of Arabia and the original script of The Godfather Part II.

Museo Egizio
Opened in 1824 not far from the Piazza Castello, this museum in the Palazzo dell'Accademia delle Scienze showcases the most important collection of Egyptian treasures outside Cairo, with over 6,500 objects on display. The collection of statues was relit in 2006 by triple Oscar-winning film production designer Dante Ferretti.

Balon and Gran Balon Markets
The Balon market, behind the Porta Palazzo and close enough to Piazza Castello, is perhaps the most interesting shopping area in Turin, with plenty of handmade goods on offer. Saturday is market day, while the second Sunday of the month brings the Gran Balon, with antique furniture and an array of collectors' items on sale.

Parco del Valentino
Located on the west bank of the river Po, the romantic Valentino Park was inaugurated in 1856 as Turin's first public space. The handsome 16th-century Castello del Valentino is out of bounds, yet the 19th-century Borgo Medievale – a life-sized reconstruction of a 15th-century Piedmontese village, complete with drawbridges and medieval towers – is worth seeing.

Il Lingotto
The former Fiat car factory was redesigned by Renzo Piano as an exhibition centre – it still has its rooftop race track, but now also contains the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli, a public art gallery featuring works by Canaletto, Renoir, Manet, Matisse and Picasso. An assortment of superb vintage cars is found nearby at the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile, which reopened in 2012 after extensive renovation.

Basilica di Superga
Erected on a hill on the other side of the river Po, a good distance from central Turin, this church was the final resting place of the Savoy royal family. However, in 1949 the basilica was tinged with tragedy when a plane carrying the Torino team – then the best side in Italy – crashed into the church in thick fog, killing everyone on board. A memorial to the victims is at the rear of the basilica.