Hi everyone! We are back from Turin…
Long time no speak right? Seems like the events of last year have left me with little energy so I’ve spent the first half of 2019 trying to get some of this energy back. I’d say that for the time being it still feels more like a roller coaster of high energy days followed by very flat days but it’s moving to the right direction.
I don’t know about you, but one of the things that are sure to restore my energy and fill me up with motivation and good vibes is travelling. Seeing new places and exploring new cultures is lifting my spirits and feeding my soul.
One of my favourite places to visit in Europe is Italy; I got married to an Italian after all! So whenever I get the opportunity to visit this beautiful country I know I’m in for a treat. My hubby studied in Turin and he loves the city but didn’t have the chance to go back in the past 8 years and he always wanted to. So the last Bank Holiday of May was a great opportunity for us to visit Turin so that he satisfies his nostalgia and he gets to show me around to the city that treated him well while he was still young and carefree without a demanding Greek wife đ
I wouldn’t say that Turin was ever on the top of my list of places to visit but sometimes the emotional satisfaction of going back to a place you once loved is even greater than sightseeing, so I knew it would be worth it at least for one of us!
Luckily, I ended up falling in love with Turin myself. It is a very vibrant city full of young people, nice surroundings, loads of history and of course many great places to shop, eat and drink!
These are some of the trip’s highlights that I would recommend you putting on your list if you ever visit Turin:
Go Shopping at Via Roma
So typical of me to start with shopping right? Turin might not be as well know as a shopping destination as Milan or London but the variety of shops from high street chains to big fashion brands like Gucci and Luis Vuitton as well as small independent boutiques is impressive.
My favourite shopping street was Via Roma. This street starts from Piazza San Carlo (also a must-see) to the main train station Porta Nuova. If you are lucky, you might even find an open market on the street. We stumbled across the most beautiful flower market when we were there, all the stands were absolutely gorgeous!
Via Garibaldi is another beautiful street in Turin’s city centre and it’s also supposed to be Europeâs longest pedestrian street. Apart from nice shops and cafes, on this street you can also find my husband’s big love…gelateria GROM. This gelato-paradise which can now be found around the world (trust me I have been dragged to it from New York to Paris to London!) started in Turin and you can find the first shop at Piazza Pietro Paleocapa.
Gelato, gelato and more gelato!
Apart from Grom, we had amazing ice-cream at Alberto Marchetti (try the pistacchio flavour, it’s amazing) and at Cafe Fiorio where it is worth trying the typical of Northern Italy Meringata allo Zabaglione ice-cream which combines the flavour of sweet maringue with sweet Marsala wine.
Visit the Egyptian Museum of Turin (Museo Egizio)
Another must-see in Turin is definitely the Egyptian Museum which is the worldâs oldest museum devoted entirely to ancient Egyptian culture (it was founded in 1824). The museum’s four floors showcase an impressive collection of Egyptian history and culture including mummies, tombs, sacred statues and the famous Temple of Ellesiya. I would love to go back again and explore it again with more time in my hands.
Lunch break and Aperol Spritz at Ristorante da Michelle
At Piazza Vittorio Veneto with a beautiful view towards the beautiful area of the Gran Madre Di Dio, you can find Da Michelle, a restaurant founded in 1922 which offers homemade style Italian food. We tried their famous Farinata (a typical dish of Liguria and Tuscany made with chickpea flower that tastes like a savory pancake) as well as the delicious agnolotti con sugo di arrosto and pappardelle con ragu washed down with a refreshing Aperol Spritz.
Walk around the area of Gran Madre di Dio
One of my favourite areas in Turin was the one around the beautiful Church of Gran Madre di Dio. With beautiful views of the river, beautiful houses and loads of green it’s perfect for a relaxing stroll.
Romantic dinner by the river at Ristorante Catullo
At a great location next to river Po and popular with celebrities like Christiano Ronaldo, Ristorante Catullo is a beautiful restaurant with delicious Italian dishes. I would definitely recommend the Ravioli Neri with red shrimps and cherry tomatoes. The perfect location for a romantic night with your other half!
Coffee at Baratti & Milano
One of the most beautiful places I ever had coffee at, the historical Cafè Baratti&Milano was founded in 1858 in Torino and it used to be a popular meeting point among politicians, scientists and artist. It is now famous for its chocolate and other delicacies as well as its gorgeous belle epoque decor. It’s on the pricey side but the experience is totally worth it.
Stroll at Turin’s Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali)
If you are looking for a place to relax from the city’s vibrant buzz, Turin’s Royal Gardens is the perfect choice! In the heart of the city centre, these beautiful grardens offer tranquility and a great place to walk and admire the plants and flowers.
Enjoy a Bicerin
Bicerin which in Piedmontese means small glass is Turin’s traditional hot drink. It is made of espresso, chocolate and whole milk and is served layered in a small rounded glass. Perfect for the coffee and chocolate lovers like myself!
A taste of Sicily at Sicily Torino
Falling in love with my hubby also made me fall in love with all the amazing Sicilian desserts. So when we discovered Sicily Torino we couldn’t resist trying some of our favourite Sicilian flavours. I can safely say that there I had the best cassata siciliana I’ve ever had!
Pizza at Starita Torino
As you are not in Italy if you don’t have good pizza, the last recommendation is for a great pizzeria called Starita. It serves delicious Napolitan-style pizza (the first Starita restaurant opened in 1901 in Napoli) and can be found apart from Turin in Milan and New York.
Love,
Eleni xx