It wasn’t until the 1500s that Turin started to emerge as an important city in Italy and even the world. It was during this time that the Savoy family moved to Turin and made it the official residence of the Savoy’s. During the middle of the 16th century Duke Emanuele Filiberto won back his lands by defeating the French at the Battle of San Quintino and in 1563 he made Turin the official capital of the Savoy dynasty.

During the Risorgimento in the 19th century Italy finally became a unified nation and on March 17, 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed and Turin was named the capital of the newly unified Italy. In 1865 the capital of Italy was moved to Florence for a brief time until 1871 when it was transferred to Rome.

It didn’t take Turin long to restore its prominence. In 1899 Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) was founded and Turin slowly transformed itself into an industrial center and it remains Italy’s car manufacturing capital.

There are many interesting facts about Turin that make it an attractive place to visit. Some of the more notable ones include that it is considered by many as the Baroque capital of the world. This is due in part to the many Royal residences, church domes and architectural masterpieces created during the 17th and 18th centuries by architects like, Guarino Guarini and Filippo Juvarra.

In 1786 the aperitif was born in Turin when Antonio Benedetto Carpano took white wine and added herbs and spices to it to create vermouth. Many people may not realize this, but Turin has a long tradition for making chocolate. One of the famous drinks in the area is called a bicerin. This was created in the 19th century and it consists of melted chocolate, coffee and milk.

If you are looking for chocolate to eat then you will want to try the famous gianduja (gianduia), which is a blend of cocoa, sugar and hazelnuts. Turin was also the birthplace of Italian cinema when Giovanni Pastrone made his groundbreaking feature Cabiria in 1914.

+39 11 553 7285

Open Hours9a-9p Tu-Sa, 1p-9p MThis is undoubtedly the best known department store in the city. Spending the afternoon admiring the shops has always been a popular pastime for the Torinesi, and this is also true at night when this shop is lit up. Thanks to its seven floors, in the heart of the city centre, Rinascente can satisfy any shopping need. Everything can be found here, homeware in the basement, an elegant perfumery by the entrance, and on other floors there are shoes and clothes of the latest fashions, beauty salons, ornaments, books, records, jewellery and much more.

+39 11 750 2111

Open Hours9a-7:30p Tu-Sa, 3p-7:30p M

This is one of the largest and most famous bookshops in the city, and if you walk down Via Garibaldi you can’t miss it. It specializes in every type of book imaginable; from the latest novels to academic works, from management books to jobseekers books. There is also an ample selection of IT texts and CD-roms.

+39 11 511 4111

Open Hours3p-7:30p M, 10a-7:30p Tu-Sa

This famous chic salon is located in Piazza San Carlo, and is an obligatory shop for anyone seeking a bit of luxury. It sells womens clothes by Gucci, Etro and Missoni, and accessories by Borbonese and Prada. The shop is decisively formal, but in the Christmas period, despite the large crowds, you will certainly manage to find “Presents that will please” even though you may end up spending a fair amount!!

+39 11 562 8462

Open Hours9a-1p M-Sa, 3:30p-7:30p M-Sa

This is the best delicatessen in Turin. Specialing in both Italian and foreign dishes, it is an unmissable opportunity for food lovers. Paissa is an ideal place for those who like Mexican tapas and American peanut butter as well as Italian lasagna. There is a a wide range of Italian and foreign wines including champagne, sparkling wines and distilled wines. An ample choice of unusual coffee blends are available for coffee lovers.

+39 11 812 1657

Open Hours3:30p-7:30p M, 9:30a-12:30p, 3p-7:30p Tu-Sa

Bags, bags and even more bags. The most distinctive, elegant shapes are made by Coccinelle, which has charm, elegance and style. It is hard not to want a bag from this shop, even the simplest shapes in the typical reddish purple colour are dazzling. They also sell accessories such as matching wallets, keyrings and purses. Once your wallet has got over the shock of buying a bag, the desire for an accessory can be easily satisfied.

This newly built hotel offers comfortable accommodation with warm and friendly staff to provide a complete and efficient service.

Multilingual staff are on hand to offer information about the city. Start your day with a tasty American hot and cold buffet, that uses fresh products. After breakfast, the hall becomes an ideal place to enjoy a drink, meet people, read a newspaper or simply relax.

A daily, shuttle service runs to the city centre and Lingotto. Within walking distance of the hotel you will find shops, restaurants, banks, pharmacies and sports facilities.

Rooms: 100. Hotel Chain: Express by Holiday Inn .

This hotel offers a prime location in the centre of Turin, a short stroll from the city’s museums, historic monuments and shops.

Via Lagrange is a lively shopping area near Via Rome. The latter offers a mixture of Baroque and Art Deco architecture, lined with restaurants and vibrant bars.

The new Lingotto Conference Centre is just 3 kilometres from the hotel. Atahotel Concord offers extensive, state-of-the-art function facilities, accommodating meetings of 20 to 100 people.

Rooms: 139. Hotel Chain: Atahotels.

Features include 19th century furniture, fine fabrics and period chandeliers. The hotel is located in the city centre, conveniently placed across from Porta Nuova station.

During the recent renovation, Starhotel Majestic was able to recover the refinement of its decor and elegance of its rooms. Avant-garde in every aspect, Majestic’s meeting facilities are the largest in the city, consisting of 11 configurable meeting rooms that accommodate up to 670 people.

Unwind in the hotel’s Il Circolo bar and enjoy a meal in Le Regine restaurant, which offers excellent local and international cuisine. 230 diners can be accommodated. Banquets and cocktail parties of up to 360 guests can also be arranged.

Rooms: 161. Hotel Chain: Starhotels.

Rooms and suites are decorated with taste and elegance. The warm, relaxing Carignano restaurant offers sophisticated international cuisine and dishes from the famed Piedmontese tradition.

The hotel offers 24 hour, free entrance to the new fitness centre. Charm and quality, together with personalised service and careful attention to detail provided by the thoughtful staff, make the Sitea ideal for a comfortable stay. For business guests, there are 4 rooms for small conferences, able to accommodate from 15 to 100 participants.

Rooms: 120. Hotel Chain: Turin Hotels.