Travel Guide Turin. Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels. Quick view Italy Travel etiquette Health

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1 Travel Guide Quick view Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Shutterstock 01/10

2 02 Quick view a brief overview The Savoys left their old home in Chambéry, France in 1563 and established a new capital for their dynasty in. They then spent the next 300 years moulding into their French likeness and thus the city, with its wide tree-lined boulevards and art nouveau cafés, has more than a whiff of Paris about it. But this city is anything but a copycat. gave the world its first chocolate bar, instigated the establishment of the modern Italian state and is home to one of the world s great religious mysteries: the Shroud. General Information Country overview Despite incessant praise, travelling in remains one of those rare experiences in life like a perfect spring day or the power of first love that cannot be overrated. In few places do history, art, fashion, food and la dolce vita (the good life) intermingle so effortlessly. There are sunny isles and electric blue surf, glacial northern lakes and fiery southern volcanoes, rolling vineyards and an urban landscape that harbours more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country in the world. Few places offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return. Geography is situated in Europe, with a long coastline of approximately 7,600km (4,720 miles) stretching into the Mediterranean Sea and a mountainous northern border adjoining France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. This northern Alpine region contains some of the highest peaks in Europe and is a good area for winter sports. In central, Tuscany has a diverse landscape composed of fertile rolling hills, lush river valleys, minor mountain ranges and a long sandy coastline. To the east is Umbria, known as the green heart of '; hilly with broad plains, olive groves and pines, and Le Marche a region of gentle mountains, rivers and small fertile plains. Further south lies Rome, 's capital city. Within its precincts is the Vatican City. The south of the country is hotter, wilder and much, much drier than the north, characterised by dry sierras, rocky mountain ranges and volcanic outcrops, including three of Europe s most active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli. Puglia, the heel of the boot', is a mixed landscape of fertile plateaus, expansive olive groves and flat, ochre-coloured plains. The islands of Sicily and Sardinia lie offshore to the southwest and west respectively. General knowledge Key facts Area: sq km ( sq miles). Population: 60.5 million (2015). Population density: per sq km. 02/10

3 03 Capital: Rome. Language The state language is Italian. South Tyrol is officially a bilingual province, where German is the language mainly spoken. In Trentino, Ladin is taught in some schools. Currency Euro (EUR; symbol ) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Electricity 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two round-pin type. Public holidays In addition to public holidays, local feast days are held in honour of town patron saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These include: /Genoa/Florence: 24. Jun (St John the Baptist) Milan: 7. Dec (St Ambrose) Venice: 25. Apr (St Mark) Bologna: 4. Oct (St Petronius) Naples: 19. Sep (St Gennaro) Bari: 6. Dec (St Nichola) Palermo: 15. Jul (St Rosalia) Rome: 29. Jun (St Peter) Siena: 2. Jul Aug (Palio) Trieste: 3. Nov (St Giusto) Below are listed Public Holidays for the January December 2018 period Capodanno (New Year's Day): 1 January 2017 Epifania (Epiphany): 6 January 2017 Pasqua (Easter Sunday): 16 April 2017 Lunedì dell'angelo (Easter Monday): 17 April 2017 Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day): 25 April 2017 Festa del Lavoro (Labour Day): 1 May 2017 Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day): 2 June 2017 Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Assumption): 15 August 2017 Tutti i santi (All Saints' Day): 1 November 2017 Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception): 8 December 2017 Natale (Christmas Day): 25 December 2017 Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day): 26 December Capodanno (New Year's Day): 1 January 2018 Epifania (Epiphany): 6 January 2018 Pasqua (Easter Sunday): 1 April 2018 Lunedì dell'angelo (Easter Monday): 2 April 2018 Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day): 25 April 2018 Festa del Lavoro (Labour Day): 1 May 2018 Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day): 2 June /10

4 04 Assunzione di Maria Vergine (Assumption): 15 August 2018 Tutti i santi (All Saints' Day): 1 November 2018 Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception): 8 December 2018 Natale (Christmas Day): 25 December 2018 Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day): 26 December 2018 All information subject to change. Travel etiquette How to fit in Social conventions The social structure is heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic Church and, generally speaking, family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western Europe. Normal social courtesies should be observed. Dress is casual but smart in most places, and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities. Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, transport and cinemas. When visiting an Italian home for dinner, bring a small gift of sweets or chocolate, and dress well. Let your host lead when sitting and starting the meal. Take a small portion of what s on offer as you will surely be cajoled into having another helping. If you do not want more wine, leave your glass full so it cannot be refilled. Health Health Main emergency number: 112 Food & Drink Tap water is generally safe to drink. Bottled water is available. The inscription 'Acqua Non Potabile' means water is not drinkable. Milk is generally pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Past outbreaks of brucellosis in southern regions means unpasteurised buffalo mozzarella is best avoided. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Other Risks The World Health Organisation (WHO) also recommends vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, polio and hepatitis B. Phone calls & Internet Telephone & Internet Telephone Country code: +39 Mobile telephony and Internet Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do 04/10

5 05 apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-eu state do not benefit from the new arrangement. Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended. Top 10 sights Top 10 sights in Museo Nazionale del Cinema Housed in the iconic steel structure, the Mole Antonelliana, s museum of cinema spans the arc of filmic history from the very first magic lanterns to Dracula s coffin. Via Montebello Tel: Tue-Fri Sat Museo della Sindona Deep in the eerie crypt of the Santo Sudario church, the story of the Shroud, a centuries-old linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man thought to be Jesus, is examined in fascinating detail. Via San Domenico Tel: Daily and Palazzo Reale This ostentatious palace is crammed with artworks, turn-of-the-century furniture, priceless tapestries and frescoes, while outside the gardens are the handiwork of Versailles landscaper, André le Nôtre. Piazzetta Reale Tel: Tue-Sun Galleria Civica d Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Beneath s air of turn-of-the-century formality beats a contemporary heart. Nowhere is it more evident than at GAM, the repository of the city s contemporary art collection. Via Magenta Tue-Sun /10

6 06 Tel: Parco Valentino One of the finest things to do in is stroll in the Valentino park along the banks of the mighty River Po. At weekends it s filled with joggers, lovers and Torinese families. Corso Massimo d Azeglio Daily sunrise-sunset Museo Nazionale dell Automobile A fitting homage to the city s prestigious place in Italian automobile history, this extensive museum displays over 200 cars showcasing the best in Italian design. Corso Unità d Italia Tel: Mon Tue Wed-Thu and Sun Fri-Sat Museo Egizio The road through Memphis and Thebes passes through, trumpeted French hieroglyphic decoder Jean-François Champollion in the 19th century, and he wasn t wrong. The collection of Egyptian treasures in this museum is the best outside of Cairo. Via Accademia delle Scienza Tel: Tue-Sun Eataly s foremost slow food outlet is a temple to regional gastronomy, featuring dozens of artisanal food, wine and beer producers and offering top-notch winetasting and cookery courses. Via Nizza 230/ Tel: Daily Lingotto Fiat s former factory building with its rooftop racetrack was built in At the time it was influential enough to impress Le Corbusier. Now, re-imagined by Renzo Piano, the complex includes a rooftop art gallery, a shopping mall, concert halls and a swanky hotel. 06/10

7 07 Via Nizza Tel: Tue-Sun Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano Opened in 2011 to mark the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification, this museum charts the story of Italian nationalism. Via Accademia delle Scienza Tel: Tue-Sun Shopping in Shopping in Key Areas s most fashionable shopping street is Via Roma, which is lined with big brands and expensive boutiques. Beyond, Via Garibaldi is home to high-street labels while Via Po, heading down to the river, is the place to look for second-hand and vintage. Markets There are more than 40 outdoor markets in, but the granddaddy of them all is the enormous, 800-stall Porta Palazzo food market (Piazza della Repubblica). For knock-off designer items and clothes the Martini-Benefica market (Piazza Benefica) has over 100 stalls, while the twicemonthly Balôn (Via Borgo Dora) is a great place to browse for antiques. Shopping Centres Gallery 8 (Via Nizza 230) housed in the old Fiat car factory at Lingotto is s best shopping mall. Otherwise you can find a branch of s most famous department store, Rinascente (Via Giuseppe Luigi Lagrange 15), while 150km southwest of the city centre, Le Gru (Via Crea 10, Grugliasco) has some 180 outlets. Restaurants Restaurants in Given its borderland position, s kitchen combines the best of French and Italian cooking featuring rich creamy sauces, cheese, grass-fed meat, truffles and fragrant mountain herbs.to add to the bounty, the vineyards of Asti and Barolo are just south of the city. Combal Zero Uncompromising, avant-garde molecular gastronomy at one of the world s finest restaurants. Piazza Mafalda di Savoia, Rivoli Price: Expensive 07/10

8 08 Tre Galli A institution serving a signature braised veal dish. Via Sant Agostino Price: Moderate È Cucina Great food served to adventurous gourmets at democratic prices. Via Bertola 27A Price: Moderate L Acino Small, cosy and resolutely Piedmontese; try the beef stew in Roero wine. Via San Domenico 2A Price: Moderate Gofreria Piemontèisa A hotspot for s griddled waffles topped with soft melting cheese and ham. Via San Tommaso 4A Price: Cheap Nightlife Nightlife in is famous for its historic cafés, many of which are architectural gems full of history, romance and gossip. They stay open late, serve delicious cakes, aperitivi and cocktails nowonder no one wants to leave. If you have to go, clubs start opening around 9pm and can be found in Murazzi del Po beside the river. Caffè Fiorio Park yourself in Mark Twain s old window seat and contemplate the gilded interior. Via Po Al Bicerin Bicerin dared to improve on s sacred café by adding a delicious dab of bitter chocolate. 08/10

9 09 Piazza della Consolate Hiroshima Mon Amour s most famous club, featuring everything from folk to techno. Via Bossoli Lobelix Famous for its sumptuous aperitivi buffet which you can enjoy seated in the piazza. Via Corte d Appello Teatro Regio Torino Outstanding opera and ballet often sells out between June and October. Piazza Castello Calendar of events Calendar of events Festival of Saint John the Baptist Each year on 24 June, celebrates the Festival of Saint John the Baptist who is the city's patron saint. The day usually begins with religious services and includes a procession, live music and dancing and a lavish banquet. According to Byzantine tradition, this date marks the summer solstice adding extra weight and significance to the occasion. 24 June 2018 Venue: Various locations Torino Settembre Musica Classical and contemporary music. September Venue: Various locations Film Festival Annual film festival showing a range of international and Italian films. 09/10

10 10 November - December Venue: Various venues Hotels Hotels in Until recently has largely been bypassed by tourists in favour of Milan, Venice and Florence, so the hotel scene lacks the same diversity of choice and style.many hotels cater instead for business travellers, although a few places are starting to break the mould. NH Santo Stefano Superb central location with sleek modern interiors within a historic shell. Via Porta Palatina Category: Expensive NH Lingotto Tech Bright, modern, architect-designed hotel within the former Fiat car factory. Via Nizza Category: Expensive Conte Biancomano A historic hotel complete with impressive ceiling frescoes, antiques and swag curtains. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II Category: Moderate Gran Mogol Large, modern, recently renovated rooms and excellent personal service. Via Guarino Guarini Category: Moderate Hotel Montevecchio Relaxed, family-run place with stencilled rooms in sunny shades. Via Rodolfo Montevecchio Category: Cheap 10/10