Tours in Turin & Piedmont by Mariarty

Italy’s first capital: royal squares, mysterious legends and the Savoy residences.

Before it became the first capital of unified Italy in 1861, Turin had been the capital of a duchy and then of a kingdom for centuries, and until 1946 it remained a magnet for aristocrats, architects and artists. Many travellers make the mistake of leaving Turin out of their itinerary. Join us for a walk through the elegant city of arcades, chocolate and secret societies – or a day trip to the royal palaces of Piedmont.

Prices are per group, in euros, and already include English-language guiding by a guide from our team. Entrance tickets, coffee and snacks are paid separately. To book, message us on WhatsApp, Telegram or Imo with your date, group size and the tour you like.

Turin & Piedmont tours

Two walks in the city and a day trip by car.

Turin Highlights: Italy’s First Capital

Royal squares, Baroque palaces, kilometres of arcades, Roman gates and the Mole Antonelliana.

3–3.5 hoursin Englishguide from our team

Guide from our team€320 for 1–3 guests · €350 for 4–5 guests

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Turin was the capital of the Savoy duchy and kingdom, and in 1861 the first capital of united Italy. That history is still visible in the city plan: a strict grid of streets, ceremonial squares and arcades stretching for kilometres, under which you can cross half of the centre without opening an umbrella.

We begin in Piazza Castello, the heart of royal Turin, where the Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama stand side by side, and see how the Savoy dynasty built its capital. We step into the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, home of the Shroud of Turin, to hear the story of the city’s main Christian relic. Then we walk to the Porta Palatina, one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in northern Italy, and through the streets of ancient Augusta Taurinorum to Piazza San Carlo, called Turin’s “drawing room”. On the way we talk about how Italian cinema was born here, how gianduja chocolate with hazelnut appeared and why Turin is considered the birthplace of vermouth. We finish at the Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of the city, which was meant to be a synagogue and now houses the National Cinema Museum. If you like, we stop at a historic café to try a bicerin, the traditional Turin drink of coffee, chocolate and cream.

Good to know

• A walking tour through the city centre – wear comfortable shoes.
• Extra costs: coffee or a snack, and optional tickets for museums and the panoramic lift of the Mole Antonelliana. Paid museums are not part of the programme.
• The date and time are booked with a partial prepayment, by whichever method suits you. The meeting point is agreed with your guide the day before.

Video and audio recording of the tour is not allowed: the tour is the author’s intellectual property, protected by EU copyright law. Thank you for understanding.

The tour is led by an English-speaking guide from our team.

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Mystical & Esoteric Turin

The most Masonic city in Italy, mixing royal splendour with medieval devilry.

3 hoursin Englishguide from our team

Guide from our team€320 for 1–3 guests · €350 for 4–5 guests

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Turin is the former capital of the Savoy kingdom and the first capital of Italy – and also a city of mysticism and cults. Alchemists, court magicians, the cult of Isis, Egyptian artefacts, esotericism and Freemasonry, all flavoured with chocolate and hazelnuts (literally) – that is Turin’s history too.

On our walk we find out how the city sits at once in the triangle of black magic and the triangle of white magic, visit both “hearts” of Turin – the light and the dark – find the place where witches and heretics were executed, and stand on the border between light and darkness in Piazza Castello. We discover where the places of power and the alchemical grotto are, discuss what Nostradamus, Paracelsus and Count Cagliostro did in Turin, and hear tales of miracles, including a “flying” relic and the rescue of a blind youth. If you wish, you can taste the traditional bicerin in one of the city’s historic cafés.

Good to know

• A walking tour – wear comfortable shoes.
• Extra costs: coffee or a snack. Paid museums are not part of the programme.
• The meeting point is agreed with your guide the day before.

Video and audio recording of the tour is not allowed: the tour is the author’s intellectual property, protected by EU copyright law. Thank you for understanding.

The tour is led by an English-speaking guide from our team.

WhatsAppImoTelegram

Royal Residences Around Turin: A Day Trip by Car

Venaria Reale, Stupinigi and Racconigi – the Savoy summer palaces and hunting lodges.

6–7 hoursby carguide from our team

Priceon request

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Besides the Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama in the city, the suburbs of Turin hide castles, summer palaces and country residences. On this trip we hear about the history of the House of Savoy, and the intrigues, conspiracies and diplomatic games of its landowners and the black aristocracy.

First we visit the royal residence of Venaria Reale, whose park served as a model for the architects of Versailles. In the mid-17th century Duke Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy decided to build a hunting lodge, got carried away and, over 15 years, the “dacha” became a symbol of Savoy power. Second stop: the hunting palace at Stupinigi, where the royal court came for a couple of days of hunting. This modest palace has 137 rooms and 17 galleries, and since 1919 has housed a museum of decorative arts. Next is the summer residence of the Savoy kings, the castle of Racconigi, where Tsar Nicholas II stayed in 1909 and which served as the prototype for the Great Livadia Palace in Crimea. You will hear about the customs of those who lived here and enjoy the nature and architecture.

Good to know

• Extra costs: transfer on request, coffee or a snack, and paid museums.
• You may find the “Torino + Piemonte Card” useful: it comes in 2-, 3-, 5- and 7-day versions and covers 160 sites, including museums, exhibitions, castles, fortresses and royal residences of Piedmont.
• The meeting point is agreed with your guide the day before.

Video and audio recording of the tour is not allowed: the tour is the author’s intellectual property, protected by EU copyright law. Thank you for understanding.

The tour is led by an English-speaking guide from our team.

WhatsAppImoTelegram

Good questions