Turin

Turin is a vibrant city that offers a number of excellent hotels. The intriguing NH Lingotto (Via Nizza 262) is a luxury option designed by Renzo Piano in a former Fiat factory, connected to the Lingotto Convention Centre and coming complete with a rooftop jogging track and a tropical Garden of Wonders. For a top notch city centre option near the Egyptian Museum try the Golden Palace (Via Dell'Arcivescovado 18) or Principi di Piemonte (Via Gobetti 15). Less expensive choices include the charming Hotel Roma e Rocca Cavour (Piazza Carlo Felice 60) and no-frills Le Petit Hotel (Via San Francesco D'Assisi 21).

Turin’s main shopping streets are Via Roma and Via Garibaldi, the latter of which is one of Europe’s longest pedestrianised streets. Head here for upmarket boutiques, and be sure to explore the adjacent streets that are full of great stores. The colourful market at the Roman gate Porta Palazzo is another of the city’s iconic shopping experiences, where you'll find everything from cheap shoes and clothing to fresh produce and homewares. Foodies simply must head to Eataly (Via Nizza 230), a mecca for Italian food that sells local produce from across the country.

There is ample opportunity to dine out in style in Turin, which lies close to the heart of the Slow Food movement, with its global headquarters located nearby in Bra. Local favourite Ristorante Consorzio (Via Monte di Pietà 23) is great for interesting and sophisticated takes on Piedmontese cuisine, while L'Acino (Via San Domenico 2) is a simpler and more traditional establishment. Turin’s classic cafés are part of the city’s fabric, with Caffè Mulassano (Piazza Castello) and Baratti & Milano (Piazza Castello) a couple of highly-rated options. There are also a selection of restaurants housed within Eataly (Via Nizza 230), a vast department store packed with gastronomic treats from around Italy.

CioccolaTÒ

March

A city famous for its chocolate, Turin welcomes both Italian and international chocolatiers each year along with hordes of hungry visitors all with a sweet tooth, all gathered at CioccolaTÒ to sell and sample the

treasured chocolate. Central Turin’s Piazza Vittorio Veneto is transformed and filled with stands offering the chance to taste all manner of chocolatey treats.

Festival Internazionale di Film con Tematiche Omosessuali di Torino

April

There is a LGBT theme to this international film festival that runs over five days and showcases original films and documentaries, featuring both vintage and new releases.

Turin International Book Fair

May

In excess of 300,000 visitors gather from near and afar at one of the most important book fairs in Europe each year. The occasion is a cultural treat, with plenty of readings and other events accompanying the trade fair.

Salone Internazionale del Gusto

October

This event is put on by Slow Food and only takes place in even-numbered years, but the selection of workshops, tastings, lectures and courses that complement the shopping and eating are well worth the wait.

Turin Film Festival

November

This film festival was established in 1982 and is Italy’s second biggest behind Venice. Previously curated by Nanni Moretti, film director Gianni Amelio now takes care of the proceedings that feature a superb array of international films.