Torino

From the Royal House of Savoy to the Regal House of the other family from Turin who shaped the history of Italy: the Agnelli family, manufacturers of Fiats and Ferraris. There is a sense of history in the timeline that connects these two families. The town’s historical centre has much to be discovered by the visitor: its stunning squares, the Baroque architecture of its buildings, its twenty kilometers of arcaded walkways, some of which date back to the 16th century. Take a stroll under the arcades to discover old antique shops, boutiques selling fine ‘Made in Italy’ designer label clothes, as well as the city’s historical cafés. Turin was the first capital of Italy from 1861-65, and has preserved many of its aristocratic features, first and foremost in the impressive Royal Palace and in the regal air of its grand buildings. Not to be missed: the National Cinema Museum, housed in the extraordinary Mole Antonelliana landmark building, the world’s highest museum, at 167m in height; the Egyptian museum, which has the largest collection of exhibits outside Cairo. Also well worth a visit is the Car Museum, which boasts an impressively designed exhibition hall and the best collection in Europe. Turin is also famous for the holy shroud, the ancient cloth closely guarded here since 1936, which is said to have covered the face of Christ after he was removed from the cross. It is quite likely that the presence of the shroud is in part responsible for generating belief that Turin is a town of dark mystery. In the darkness of the night, Turin will show its obscure, intriguing side, through a series of esoteric symbols that combine to produce a decidedly noir atmosphere.