Things to see in Turin

Any visit to the Piedmont region is likely to include some kind of stop in its capital city, Turin (Torino in Italian), whether it's a dedicated visit or transit from its main airport close to the city.

Not only is it the capital of Piedmont but it was once, for a brief tenure, the capital of Italy shortly after the Risorgimento, the process by which the country was united in 1860.

Previous to its two year period of being the country's capital, Turin was a stronghold of the powerful Savoy dynasty who held sway here from the 16th century.

A legacy of that period are the fourteen royal palaces which are dotted around the city and its outskirts; notable among these are the Palazzo Reale and Reggia di Venaria Reale which is situated just outside the city centre. The palaces form one of Piedmont's UNESCO World Heritage listings, titled: Residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

Turin's regal history is tangible throughout the city, its baroque cafes and elegant boulevards offering just a few clues to its glorious past. In modern times the city has seen something of a resurgence in terms of tourism, due in part to the 2006 Winter Olympics which were staged here and prompted some investment.

The principal sights in Turin include its famous Egyptian Museum which many scholars rate as the best of its kind outside Egypt itself. From the museum it's just a short walk to the city's grand piazzas such as Piazza San Carlo, Piazza Castello and Piazza Reale where there are more museums and the aforementioned Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale).

To get the signature photograph of the city you need to make your way up to Monte dei Cappuccini. You may be forgiven for thinking the mountain is named after a popular beverage (or perhaps not), but it's the home of the Church of Santa Maria al Monte dei Cappuccini. Aside from the church itself, from here you get a fabulous view of the city with the backdrop of the Alps and its iconic centrepiece the Mole Antonelliana which nowadays houses the National Museum of Cinema.

An unusual topographical feature of Turin is that it has two rivers flowing through it, the River Dora and the River Po, the latter of which is the longest in Italy. There are lots of places around the city where you can enjoy riverside walks or sunbathing in the summer, among which are the impressive Parco del Valentino where you'll find another of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy: Castello del Valentino.

Turin is one of the best connected of all cities in Italy in terms of transport. Firstly, it has an underground Metro system which helps if you're staying on the fringes of the city centre, but it also has its own airport located just 15 km away.