Roberto CoinVoice: A Weekend In Turin: The Perfect Winter Getaway

By Sophia Macris

Rome has the Coliseum, Florence has the Uffizi, Venice has the gondolas, Vicenza has the Roberto Coin factories, and Capri has the Blue Grotto. But Turin? Turin has FIAT, you may say. If travelers to Italy have heard of Turin at all, it is maybe because of Italys largest automaker. All the better for you: the dearth of tourists makes Turin an ideal weekend destination, especially in the winter. And youll soon find it to be more than just the Detroit of Italy.

Friday Afternoon

Arrive in Turin on the Frecciarossa train from Milan. Even the high-speed train signals the efficiency of northern Italy; were close to Switzerland here, and you can feel it in the airand the on-time arrivals. From the train, you can walk to your lodgings for the weekend, the elegant and understated Townhouse 70 hotel, part of the small luxury Townhouse chain. The hotels rooms are modern and well-appointed, and the central location is perfect for exploring the heart of this Piemontese city.

As in most of northern Italy, aperitivo culture is sacred in Turin. Lobelix, a caf in the Piazza Savoia just a short walk from the hotel, takes aperitivi to Alpine heights. The two-level caf spills out into the piazza in nice weather, but the spread of snacks inside is what draws crowds. Locals quaff negronis and Prosecco while munching on a veritable buffet. They take their snacks seriously in this town. From canaps to cannelloni, the treats will more than tide you over for your evening stroll.

Turin is renowned for its holiday lights, and not in the tacky, National Lampoon Christmas way. The Luci dArtista is an initiative geared toward bolstering Turins reputation as a center of contemporary art in northern Italy, and the entire city glows during the winter months. The traditional lighted signs of the citys shops and restaurants join installation pieces with names like Flying Carpet and Solar Wind from artists such as Luigi Nervo, Alfredo Jaar, Enrica Borghi, and Vanessa Safavi. Neon lights are suspended over the streets, strung between buildings, and you cant help but feel magic in the air.

Saturday

After breakfast at the hotel, you head out for some culture and history. Turin is home to the Museo Egizio, one of the worlds finest collections of Egyptian art, courtesy of several generations of Piemontese Egyptologists who amassed a trove of mummies and other artifacts. The museum is in the midst of continuing renovations, and recently opened the Statuario, an absolutely breathtaking gallery designed by Oscar-winning art director Dante Ferretti to showcase its collection of sarcophagi. Theres even a temple transported from Egypt after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. From the Museo Egizio, feed your appetite at the original Eataly, opened here in 2007. Though a worldwide phenomenon now, this one-stop food emporium celebrating the gusto and grace of Italian gastronomy was born right here in Turin. Its location in the Piedmonte region of Italy has always ensured that Turin produces (and consumes) some of the best food in Italy. Enjoy traditional pastas and a glass of local wine downstairs in one of the restaurants, then shop for souvenirs your friends and family will really love.

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Roberto CoinVoice: A Weekend In Turin: The Perfect Winter Getaway