Turin - April 2012

So on April 5th we returned to Turin in much warmer weather than 2010. We are staying in the Hotel Parco Europa that doesn't look like much on the outside but inside it is pure art deco and fabulous. I hope that they never renovate the place but keep it like it is. The hotel is located in a small village hilltop town of Cavoretto that has been completely enveloped by Metropolitan Turin yet has managed to keep its small village feel. It is also home to the Parco Europa that affords wonderful views of Turin and the distant Alps. Our first day we pay a return trip to the Turin Cinema Museum but also take in the street life much more than last time. The warmer weather has brought people out into the open piazza's along with street vendors and you get a real sense of the city life. The second day was a walking tour of two of Turin's famous locations. The first was the Madama Palazzo, a castle built over Roman remains in the city centre. The corner towers afford magnificent views of the city. But perhaps more stunning is the secluded church, Capella di Mercanti. Outside it is just some shabby doors opening on to the street but inside is a magnificent church with painted ceiling of world renown. On the third day we were booked on a steam train trip to the city of Bra, a journey of some 50 kms and to be pulled by a steam train at speed was a wonderful experience. The engine was Trenitalia Class 640 No 640-143 in superb condition. Bra is a beautiful city full of old buildings and parks and lots to explore. Surprise surprise Turin has a modern mall. On the fourth day we went to Langotta Mall and Galeria, Italian in style but recognisable as a mall by any North American tourist. more impressive was a large department store called Eataly and located across the road from the mall. This is an open plan store with lots of air and space and what can I say but wonderful food. The olives, oh the olives. On the fifth day we joined a school class for a walk to Parco Valentino where a lunch had been prepared in local Piedmontese style in the park restaurant. The sixth day we flew home