Index
A noble and reserved legacy: the historical soul of Turin
Turin is a city that doesn’t need to shout to get noticed. Its history is everywhere, but it doesn’t impose itself: it’s discovered one step at a time, amid elegant porticoes, baroque facades, and the silence that speaks of centuries of change.
It’s no coincidence that those who stay in our Home4Holidays apartments, in the heart of Turin—between Santa Chiara, San Carlo, and Porta Susa—often ask us for advice on what to see off the beaten tourist track. And our answer is always the same: let history guide you.
In this article, we’ll take you on a discovery of Turin’s most fascinating historical sites, including royal residences, monumental churches, and little-known details that make the city unique.
I palazzi reali: potere, bellezza e storie da scoprire
For centuries, Turin was the capital of a kingdom. And like any capital, it guarded its power behind the imposing façades of its palaces. Walking through the streets of the city center, you come across buildings that tell of sovereigns, ladies of the court, silent revolutions, and baroque splendor.
Visiting these places isn’t just about seeing elegant rooms: it’s a chance to immerse yourself in history, hear the echo of footsteps in the corridors, and imagine the city as it was when Europe was governed from here.
All these palaces are just a few minutes’ walk from our Home4Holidays apartments—whether you’re in Porta Susa, San Carlo, or Santa Chiara, just a few steps away is a journey back in time.
Palace Reale
Understated on the outside, magnificent on the inside. The Royal Palace is the monumental heart of Savoy Turin. It was the official residence of the kings until the unification of Italy, and boasts sumptuous rooms: halls with frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers, mirrors, tapestries, and a majestic grand staircase that will take your breath away.
Don’t miss the Throne Room and the Royal Armoury, one of the richest in Europe. Don’t forget the Royal Gardens, where you can stroll among sculptures and perfectly manicured hedges.
You can reach it with a pleasant 15-minute walk from our apartments in the Porta Susa or Via Santa Chiara areas.
Palace Madama
Overlooking Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama is a building with two souls: the medieval side, with the sturdy castle towers, and the Baroque façade designed by Filippo Juvarra, which exudes elegance and momentum.
It was once the residence of noblewomen (hence the name “Madama”), then the seat of the first Senate of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Today, it houses the Civic Museum of Ancient Art, with collections ranging from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. But even climbing the monumental staircase or looking out from the loggia is worth the visit.
If you stay in our apartment behind Piazza San Carlo, you can reach it in less than ten minutes, strolling under the arcades of Via Roma.
Palace Carignano
An absolute masterpiece of Piedmontese Baroque, designed by Guarino Guarini, Palazzo Carignano stands out for its undulating red brick façade, as dramatic as it is unique.
This is where Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy, was born, and here you can feel the political and cultural tensions of the Risorgimento. It houses the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, but even without entering, it’s worth stopping to admire the façade, perhaps with a coffee in the internal courtyard.
From the apartments on Via Santa Chiara or Piazza San Carlo, it’s a short walk through some of the most charming streets of the historic center.
The churches that tell the story of Turin: between faith, art, and mystery.
In Turin, churches are more than just places of worship: they are spaces suspended in time, where architecture, spirituality, and history intertwine. Some overlook elegant piazzas, others are hidden among the city center’s alleys; all have a story to tell.
The Cathedral and the Chapel of the Sindone
The Cathedral of San Giovanni is the spiritual heart of Turin. Its white marble façade is sober, but inside it houses one of the city’s most famous symbols: the Holy Shroud. Not always on display, but always venerated.
Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Chapel of the Shroud, one of architect Guarino Guarini’s absolute masterpieces. After years of restoration following the 1997 fire, today it can finally be admired in all its baroque complexity, amidst plays of light, intertwined arches, and surprising perspectives.
Church of San Lorenzo
Just steps from the Royal Palace, this church will surprise you from the moment you enter: its façade is so discreet, it resembles a noble palace. But once inside, you’re guaranteed awe.
San Lorenzo is a Baroque jewel, with a central plan, elliptical niches, and a “mathematical” dome that lets light filter through like a planetarium. Guarini surpassed himself here, creating a spiritual and visionary space.
Sanctuary of Consolata
The Consolata is a place deeply loved by the people of Turin. People come here to pray, light a candle, or simply meditate in silence. It’s a crowded yet quiet sanctuary, where a sense of popular protection reigns.
Inside, gold, marble, votive offerings hang on the walls, and a captivating altar. Its complex structure, the result of centuries of expansion, is yet harmonious.
It’s located near the Roman Quadrilateral: perfect for walking from our apartments in the Santa Chiara area.
Gran Madre di Dio
On the opposite bank of the Po, at the top of a short flight of steps, stands the church of the Gran Madre di Dio. Majestic, with its neoclassical façade inspired by the Pantheon, it is one of Turin’s most photographed landmarks.
From the terrace, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city center, perfect at sunset. But there are also those drawn to the legends: according to Turin’s esoteric tradition, the Gran Madre is a key point in the “Turin of white magic.”
To reach it, simply cross Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I from Piazza Vittorio: an ideal after-dinner stroll.
Secret Turin: The Most Unusual Historic Sites
Turin has a quieter side, made up of details that go unnoticed at first glance. These are places off the beaten tourist track, yet brimming with charm and history. By strolling slowly, you might discover a more intimate Turin, one that speaks quietly to those who truly care to listen.
A good starting point is Porta Palatina, one of the best-preserved Roman ruins in northern Italy. Its twin red-brick towers have stood for two thousand years next to the Cathedral, a testament to the ancient city of Augusta Taurinorum. It’s a seemingly timeless corner, where you can stop and imagine the city as it was in the Imperial era.
Not far away, in a quiet alley behind Via della Consolata, stands the Bell Tower of Santa Chiara. You might not notice it if you didn’t know what to look for: it’s all that remains of an ancient convent, destroyed by bombings during World War II. Today, it stands silently, discreetly and poetically. A fragment of urban memory that speaks of resilience and transformation.
Continuing our journey toward the heart of Turin’s civic power, we arrive at Piazza Palazzo di Città. Despite its historical importance—it was here that the city’s decisions were made for centuries—it is a space few tourists truly explore. The Town Hall, with its elegant eighteenth-century façade, dominates the square with a Savoy composure. Strolling here in the evening, when the city has calmed down, conveys a sense of a Turin that is institutional yet human, reserved yet welcoming.
Finally, there’s an underground world that many don’t even imagine: the one beneath Piazza Castello. Beneath your feet, between Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, lie the remains of the Roman city, partially visible thanks to excavations and guided tours. It’s a literal journey into history’s underground, among stretches of ancient roads, walls, and vestiges of early Turin. A unique opportunity to see the city… from the ground up.
Sleeping in places of history
Discovering Turin from an authentic neighborhood makes all the difference.
With Home4Holidays, we offer well-maintained, elegant, and well-located apartments for those who want to explore the city slowly and deeply. We’re located in Santa Chiara, just steps from the Roman Quadrilateral; in San Carlo, in the city’s noble heart; and in Porta Susa, a strategic hub between the city center and the train station.
Whether you want to visit a royal residence or lose yourself in a hidden church, you’ll always be close to your starting point.
Turin reveals itself to those who know how to observe
There’s no need to rush to see Turin. Just walk, look up, enter a church that may have been standing for centuries, and be amazed by the details.
Turin’s historic sites are many and varied: solemn or hidden, sumptuous or simple, but they all have something to tell.
And we, who live and work in this city every day, are happy to share these tips with you.
If you need accommodations in the heart of the city center, or want some suggestions on where to start your exploration, write to us: we’re here to help.
