LIFTING THE VEIL

Unveil the wonders of Italy’s earliest capital city on a compelling guided tour of Turin. Best-known today as the birthplace of the country’s most iconic car manufacturer FIAT, the home of award-winning football club Juventus and the cradle of chocolate gianduiotti, Turin is replete with splendid artistic and architectural treasures, evidence of the city’s glorious Baroque heyday and prime role as the seat of the House of Savoy.

Embraced by the rivers Dora to the north and Po to the east, surrounded by gently rolling hills and framed in the background by majestic alpine peaks, the city you are about to explore boasts “the most beautiful natural location in the world” – in the words of architect Le Corbusier. Magnificent mansions, elegant tree-lined boulevards, grandiose squares, art nouveau cafes and carefully tended parks still stand as reminders of Turin’s good old days, when the city occupied a central position in Italy’s political life.

You begin your day with a visit to the Royal Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of Turin itself. From the second half of the 16th century to 1865, this fabulous mansion was the official residence of the powerful Savoys. Marvel at the sheer extent of their wealth and prestige as you follow your guide through the lavishly furnished apartments. Elaborately painted ceilings, ornate chandeliers, finely woven carpets, sparkling gilded mouldings, wooden inlaid cabinets, precious porcelain vases and silver cutlery bestow glory on the chambers of this princely palazzo, offering the visitor a fascinating glimpse into the lives of yesteryear’s rulers. As you wander through the rooms your guide will enrich your visit with riveting anecdotes about its royal residents and explain how the very first aspirations for a united Italy began to germinate here, ideas that shaped the identity and future course of a nation. The palace also houses a stunning display of historical weaponry and armour from the 16th and 17th centuries and the Royal Library with two hundred thousand priceless volumes, including ancient books, illuminated manuscripts, engravings and drawings by some of Italy’s best-loved Renaissance and Baroque masters.

The palace is connected to the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, cleverly designed by architect Guarino Guarini in the 17th century so as to allow members of the royal family direct access from their apartments to the presbytery of the Cathedral of St. John. Here, until 1997, when a fire destroyed the chapel, the much venerated relic of the Holy Shroud was kept. Today this centuries-old linen cloth, supposedly the burial garment of Jesus of Nazareth, bearing what are believed to be his image and crucifixion wounds, is safely locked away inside a case in the cathedral’s left aisle. Listen to your guide unravel the mysteries and contentions that surround this holy veil. Ongoing scientific investigations of the shroud’s authenticity have not yet provided us with irrefutable evidence of its dating and origin.

Next, lift the curtain to reveal Turin’s magnificent stage on a Baroque-focused stroll through town. You will be led along gracious streets, through stately squares, past striking facades, while learning about the remarkable achievements and priceless legacy of the protagonists of the flamboyant 17th century artistic movement. Cast your eyes up towards the extraordinary dome of the Church of San Lorenzo, a true masterpiece of Baroque virtuosity; see where Italy’s first parliament sat as you saunter through Piazza Carignano; finally strike a pose for a photo next to Duke Emanuele Filiberto, galloping triumphantly on horseback in Piazza San Carlo, surrounded by churches and sumptuous palazzi.