In Turin, the aperitivo is a ritual, and much of its history begins beneath the porticoes of Piazza Castello. Here, in 1786, Antonio Benedetto Carpano mixed white wine, herbs and spices to create vermouth. From that little shop, the drink made its way to the Savoy court and, over time, to bar counters around the world.
We are not offering you a list of bars where you can stop for a drink, but a route through the places that tell the story of how vermouth was born, developed and established itself. There are recipes preserved in the workshops of master vermouth makers, Art Nouveau cafés frequented by artists and intellectuals, and elegant tearooms where it was served to the Savoy family.
The three stops we have chosen reveal different sides of this story: the shop where it all began, the production that brought vermouth to the world, and a café connected with Turin's cultural memory. Before setting off, we recommend checking the visiting arrangements for each place.
On foot Walking: 7.9 km, 1 h 59 min excluding stops reached by transport
-
Caffè ElenaCaffè Elena
FOR THE VERMOUTH THAT WAS REFINED HERE
Caffè Elena – The Haven of Pavese and Gramsci
Caffè Elena does not have the fame of Mulassano or the grandeur of Baratti, but it has something even more valuable: authenticity. This café, dating from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century and set beneath the porticoes of Piazza Vittorio Veneto, is a place of literary and political memory.These are the essential stops, but there is much more!
Book your stay at our B&B to receive:
The complete step-by-step itinerary
Our personalised recommendations on what to order
Practical information box – How to get there and back
The technical guide to vermouth
One final little gem to round off your themed day
By staying with us, you save compared with online travel agencies' rates, sleep well and enjoy entirely homemade breakfasts. You also get to experience this Turin itinerary in person, starting from the B&B and stopping for treats at the city's most famous chocolate shops
-
Caffè MulassanoCaffè Mulassano
FOR THE APERITIVO THAT INVENTED THE TRAMEZZINO
Caffè Mulassano – Where Vermouth Met Bread
Just 31 square metres. Yet something revolutionary happened in this tiny Art Nouveau gem tucked beneath the porticoes of Piazza Castello: in 1925, Angela and Onorino Nebiolo, having returned from America, invented the tramezzino.And they created it to accompany vermouth at aperitivo time.
-
Caffè Baratti & MilanoCaffè Baratti & Milano
FOR THE ELEGANCE THAT ONCE SUPPLIED THE HOUSE OF SAVOY
Caffè Baratti & Milano – The Savoyard Salon
If Mulassano is about intimacy, Baratti & Milano is about grandeur. This historic café, which opened on 1 February 1875 inside the newly built Galleria Subalpina, has been the meeting place of Turin’s high society for 150 years: a supplier to the Royal Household, a gathering place for artists and intellectuals, and a symbol of Savoyard elegance. -
Museo CarpanoMuseo Carpano
FOR THE HISTORY OF VERMOUTH WITHOUT LEAVING THE CITY
Museo Carpano – The Inventor of Vermouth
If Casa Martini is too far away or you prefer to stay in the city, Museo Carpano is an essential stop. Here, on the first floor of Eataly Lingotto, you can discover the story of Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the man who quite literally invented vermouth in 1786.The museum is a little gem: historic posters, vintage bottles, original documents, reconstructions of the old shop beneath the porticoes of Piazza Castello, and above all the remarkable story of how a young Turin liqueur maker revolutionised the world of aperitifs with a secret recipe based on wine, aromatic herbs and spices.
-
Casa MartiniCasa Martini by public transport or car
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE IT ALL BEGAN – Casa Martini – The Temple of Vermouth Worldwide
If you really want to understand what vermouth means, you have to come here. Casa Martini is not a museum: it is a complete experience in the world of one of Italy's most famous brands worldwide.
We are in Pessione di Chieri, at the historic factory where, from 1863 onwards, Alessandro Martini and Luigi Rossi built what would become an empire. Here, where Martini is still made today (yes, the one you drink all over the world), you can journey through 160 years of vermouth history: from the Mondo Martini Gallery, with vintage posters and iconic advertising campaigns, to the production rooms where vermouth comes to life, and on to the Bar Academy, where you learn to make the perfect cocktails.
The route
The map loads after consent to third-party content (OpenStreetMap).
These are the essential stops, but there is much more
When you book your stay with us you receive the complete step-by-step itinerary, a practical box with directions to get there and back, tips on what to see and a final treat to round off the themed day.