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Italy : Turin - May 2008

Country Code: Dial for Italy

As late spring blossoms hang heavy in the streets, sunny days combined with cool mountain breezes make May the perfect month to explore Turin. Whether you want to cycle the city’s 115km of paths or dance until dawn around Docks Dora, there’s plenty here to keep everyone happy. Kathryn Tomasetti reports

Getting around

Caselle airport

Bus: A bus service from the airport to the city centre runs every 30 minutes, from 5.15am to 11pm (see www.sadem.it). The journey takes 40 minutes and costs €5.
Train: Trains run directly into Dora station from the airport. The service departs every 30 minutes (see www.gtt.to.it) and takes 40 minutes. Tickets cost €3.
Taxi: A taxi to the city centre takes about 30 minutes and costs €35. Tourist information: The city’s main tourist office is at the Atrium, Piazza Solferino (tel. , www.turismotorino.org).

PIAZZA CASTELLO

Formerly home to the ruling Savoys, Piazza Castello is Turin’s cultural heart, pulsing at the crossroads of Via Po, Via Garibaldi and Via Roma.

Sleep soundly – Ultra-modern NH Santo Stefano is perfectly polished, and just steps from the city’s major attractions. Or try the tiny Hotel Chelsea, which often offers weekend discounts.

Culture vultures – Grab a snack and head to the 17th-century environs of Giardini Reali (entrance on Viale Luzio). Check out architect Guarino Guarini’s Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Piazza Castello), which is considered to be one of the finest examples of religious architecture in the world.

Must eat – La Baita del Formaggio’s (36 Via Lagrange) delectable deli is the perfect spot to pick up a picnic en route to Giardini Reali or Parco del Valentino. Or head to Neuv Caval ’d Brôns (155 Piazza San Carlo, tel. ) for an evening of innovative gastronomy.

PIAZZA EMANUELE FILIBERTO

On the edge of the vibrant Quadrilatero district, this piazza is an excellent starting point from which to explore the city’s oldest neighbourhood.

Must eat – Discover Turin’s ever-present French influence at Pastis (9 Piazza Emanuele Filiberto, ). Be sure to check out the interior, where local artists rotate their creations on the restaurant walls. Or wind your way through the back streets to La Taverna di Guitti (1 Via San Dalmazzo, tel. ) for more traditional Piedmontese fare.

Shop til you drop – If you’re in town on 11 May, be sure to visit Il Gran Balôn market (Piazza della Repubblica). A scavenger’s paradise, you can pick up vintage clothes, accessories and antique furniture here. The same piazza hosts the Porta Palazzo market daily (from Mondays to Saturdays), Europe’s biggest open-air market.

VIA PO & PARCO DEL VALENTINO

Flanked by arcades and uniform three-story buildings, Via Po arches elegantly between Piazza Castello and the Po River. On a warm afternoon, head to Parco del Valentino, where you can rent a bike at the park’s kiosk and explore Turin’s riverbanks.

Culture vultures – Admire the city’s striking architecture from one of Valentina & Valentino’s cruises along the Po River. Boats depart four times daily from Corso Massimo D’Azeglio in Parco del Valentino (tel. for reservations)

Must eat – Soak up La Badessa’s (17 Piazza Carlo Emanuele II, tel. ) 19th-century ambiance. Skip dessert and head instead to nearby Cremeria Ghigo (52 Via Po) for handmade chocolates – the original recipe was created for the Savoys.

Must drink – Stop for a gelato at Café Fiorio (). Founded in 1780, it was a favourite with 18th-century aristocrats.

Must drink – Stop for a gelato at Café Fiorio (8 Via Po). Founded in 1780, it was a favourite with 18th-century aristocrats.

Dance the night away – The Murazzi’s former boathouses-turned-clubs line the Po River around Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Squeeze your way into Jam Club (19 Murazzi del Po) or simply barhop until you decide on a favourite.

Shop til you drop – Visit Giulebbe (39 Via della Rocca) for fabulous foodie souvenirs from Piedmont and all over Italy.

DOCKS DORA

If you’ve packed your dancing shoes, be sure to pop up north of the Dora River, where this former industrial area has become one of the hottest nightspots in town.

Sleep soundly – Hotel Alexandra (14 Lungo Dora Napoli, tel. , www.hotel-alexandra.it, rooms from €89) is a bargain spot close to the action.

Dance the night away – Head to 68 Via Valprato, where cool clubs like Café Blue and Dock’s Home jostle for attention in former warehouse spaces.

Compiled by Kathryn Tomasetti