Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 1949 the basilica gained less welcome fame when a plane carrying the entire Turin
football team crashed into the church in thick fog, killing all on board. Their tomb rests at
the rear of the church. To get here take tram 15 from Piazza Vittorio Veneto to the
Sassi-Superga stop on Corso Casale, then walk 20m to
Stazione Sassi
(Strada Comunale di Su-
perga 4)
, from where an original 1934
tram
(one way €4-6, return €6-9; from Sassi 9am-noon &
2-8pm Mon & Wed-Fri, 9.30am-12.30pm & 2.30-8.30pm Sat & Sun, 30min later from Superga)
rattles the
3.1km up the hillside in 18 minutes every day except Tuesday.
DON'T MISS
REGGIA DI VENARIA REALE
Humungous, ostentatious, regal, yet strangely under-publicised, the Reggia di Venaria Reale, a
Unesco-listed palace complex built as a glorified hunting lodge by the frivolous Duke of Savoy Carlo
Emanuele II in 1675, is Italy's proverbial Versailles. Sure, it may not enjoy the weighty publicity of its
über-famous French counterpart (restoration work only concluded in 2010), but this is one of the
largest royal residences in the world, rescued from ruin after decades of neglect by a €235 million
10-year-long restoration project. Among the jewels bequeathed by its erstwhile royal rulers are a vast
garden complex, a glittering
stag fountain
(with water shows), a Louis XIV-worthy
Grand Gallery
,
plus the attached
Capella di Sant'Uberto
and
Juvarra stables
. The last three were all designed by
the great Sicilian architect Filippo Juvarra in the 1720s.
To enjoy the permanent exhibition alone, you'll need to walk 2km through the aptly-named
Theatre
of History and Magnificence
, a museum trajectory that relates the 1000-year history of the Savoy clan
bivouacked in their former royal residential quarters and taking in the aforementioned gallery and
church. On top of this are numerous high-profile temporary exhibitions, regular live concerts, an on-
site cafe and restaurant, and an adjacent
borgo
(old village), now engulfed by Turin's suburbs, that's
full of cosy places to eat and drink. Take note, there's a lot to digest and you'll need the best part of a
day to see it. You can reach the palace complex (10km northwest of the city centre) on bus 11 from
Porta Nuova station.
Courses
Eataly
(
www.eatalytorino.it
; from €20)
Food sampling, tasting, and becoming a chef, sommelier
secrets and cookery workshops all take place at Turin's famous Slow Food supermarket.
COOKING
Tours
Turismo Bus Torino
BUS TOUR
