Piazza San Carlo: Self-Guided Audio Tours

Across four floors of the Madama Palace, you'll take a journey through history. From ancient Rome, through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and up to the Baroque. Things start in the basement with the Roman foundations and medieval stonework, including sculptures and jewellery. You can also reach the medieval garden from here, a haven of peace in the heart of Turin. On the ground floor you'll find exhibits dedicated to the 15th-century castle and the art of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Make sure to keep your eyes out for _Portrait of a Man_ by Antonello da Messina The Baroque rooms, on the first floor, house art from the 17th and 18th centuries, with paintings and furniture by Piffetti and Prinotto in lavishly decorated settings. On the second floor, you will be able to see the decorative arts of all ages: ceramics, ivories, jewellery, fabrics, glasswork, and much more.

Take a day trip out of Turin or Milan and see how the other half used to live! This well-preserved 11th-century residence of the Valperga family is a testament to medieval and Baroque opulence. Visitors can access stunningly furnished and frescoed rooms inside the castle's fortified walls.

This self-guided audio walk introduces first-time visitors to Turin through its grand squares, royal monuments, and layered history. It will especially suit travelers who enjoy elegant cityscapes, architecture, and the feeling of discovering how Roman, Baroque, and 19th-century Turin meet in one compact route. Your route begins in Piazza San Carlo, one of Turin’s most graceful spaces, framed by long arcades and twin churches. From there, you continue to Piazza Carignano and Piazza Carlo Alberto, where palaces and statuary reveal the city’s political past. The walk then opens into Piazza Castello, the historic heart of Turin, before leading you to the red-brick Palatine Gate, one of the clearest signs of the ancient Roman city. Next, you pass through the Royal Gardens, where clipped greenery, statues, and palace walls soften the urban rhythm. The route continues to the Mole Antonelliana, whose soaring dome dominates the skyline, then descends to the vast Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The tour ends at Chiesa Della Gran Madre di Dio, across the river, where a monumental staircase and columned façade create a dramatic final scene. Along the way, the most memorable moments include standing beneath the arcades of Piazza San Carlo, seeing Roman towers rise above modern streets, catching sight of the Mole’s 121-meter spire, and finishing with wide views over the Po and Turin’s stately riverfront.

Are you ready to discover Turin? The tour starts from the Porta Palatina, the oldest Roman monument in the city, and it will finish at Valentine Park where you can have some rest! You will visit some magnificent squares like Piazza Castello, Piazza Vittorio, Piazza San Carlo, and Piazza Carignano, but also the most important city's monuments and museums like Royal Palace, Egyptian Museum and Mole Antonelliana. Tickets entrance are not included with this guide, but you will find inside some tips to save money! You will discover the secrets and the stories of this city that you'll never find in any other guide and, of course, you'll also find some food advice! COSTS AND OPENING HOURS: -- Royal Palace (€15) Tue — Sun: from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed: Monday -- Egyptian Museum (€12) Mon — Sat: from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Closed: Sunday, December 25 -- Mole Antonelliana and Cinema Museum (€11-15) Mon: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wed — Sunday: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Closed: Tuesday