Turin from above: the viewpoints

Prince Cardinal Maurizio di Savoia commissioned it in 1615; enlarged and transformed over time, it became one of the residences of Savoy princesses, duchesses and queens. In the eighteenth century, partly thanks to the work of Filippo Juvarra, the royal apartments and the great hall were enriched with decorations and furnishings of European taste, with exotic motifs and precious workmanship.

The view does not stay the same as you climb: from one level of the gardens to the next the perspective on the city changes, and among the rooftops you can pick out the Mole Antonelliana. On clear days, further away, the arc of the Alps can be made out.

From our B&B you can also reach the villa on foot, crossing Borgo Po and tackling a climb. It is one of the viewpoints closest to us, and you can devote a visit to it on its own, without necessarily having to fit it into a walk through the historic centre.

On the summit stand the church of Santa Maria al Monte and the convent of the Capuchin friars. The church, recognisable by its dome and central plan, was begun at the end of the sixteenth century to a design by Giacomo Soldati; work continued in the seventeenth century with the contributions of Ascanio Vitozzi and Carlo di Castellamonte. The friars of the convent also carried out relief work during epidemics, including the plague of 1630.

From up here the historic centre appears all at once: piazza Vittorio Veneto, the Mole Antonelliana, the regular grid of the streets and the Po crossing the city. When the air is clear, the arc of the Alps also appears in the background.

The viewpoint can be reached on foot from our B&B with a short climb. To enjoy the view you do not need to enter the church or the convent: it is all in front of you, from the forecourt.

After the transformation of the complex, designed by Renzo Piano, the track became the Pista 500: since 2022 it has housed a roof garden and an open-air exhibition route, curated by the Pinacoteca Agnelli, with contemporary art installations. Access follows the Pinacoteca's visiting arrangements.

The contrast makes up much of the charm of this stop: on top of a building conceived to produce and test cars there is now a green space, and the ramps and the track hold the two eras together without needing much explanation. If the track looks familiar, it is because in 1969 the Mini chase of The Italian Job was filmed here: we talk about it in the itinerary <a href="/en/itineraries-in-turin/cinematic-turin-22/">Cinematic Turin.

You are not at the height of Turin's great viewpoints, but that is precisely the difference: from the track you can see the southern districts without losing sight of the individual buildings. Further on there is the hill and, when the sky is clear, you can also make out the mountains. It is a good choice if you like a view that keeps a link with the city's industrial history.

The Mole, 167.5 metres high, today houses the Museo Nazionale del Cinema and is one of the symbols of Turin. Alessandro Antonelli designed it in 1862 as a future synagogue, but the continual changes, the growing height and the costs led to disputes with the Jewish community, which gave up completing it. The people of Turin, who had watched it rise for years, asked for it to be finished. The City took over the site and completed the work in 1889.

From these spaces you can see the city, the hills and, with a clear sky, the mountains. It is not, however, a public terrace with free access: the view is enjoyed through the restaurant services or during initiatives that allow access to the upper floors.

From the hillside viewpoints you look at Turin from the outside; here you are above its neighbourhoods. Through the large windows you can make out the regular layout of the city and, with good visibility, the arc of the Alps. It is a different perspective from that of the hill, to be enjoyed in the restaurant or lounge bar spaces, not from an independent public observation deck.

Francesco Faà di Bruno, a mathematician and priest, also set up an astronomical observatory in it. It was he who wanted, in the San Donato district, the church of Nostra Signora del Suffragio, known as Santa Zita, for the institute devoted to sheltering and training young women. The climb is possible only on special occasions and as part of organised initiatives; it is not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo or have difficulty walking.

The viewpoint, when climbing it is allowed, is the 15th-century bell tower next to the cathedral, later modified to a design by Filippo Juvarra. From the tower the historic centre spreads out below you, with the Porta Palatina, the Roman archaeological area and the buildings of the Musei Reali. Access to the panoramic route is not always possible.

The palace too spans different eras. In the middle of piazza Castello it preserves the ancient gates of the Roman city, the towers born from its transformation into a medieval castle and the Baroque facade designed by Filippo Juvarra in the eighteenth century. Later one of the residences of the Savoy Madame Reali, today it houses the Museo Civico d'Arte Antica. The tower is reached during the visit to the museum.

From the forecourt and the surroundings of the basilica, Turin opens up before you, with the course of the Po and, on clear days, the arc of the Alps in the background. When visibility is good, the eye can travel from Monviso to the Monte Rosa massif.

If the route is accessible and you feel like climbing further, the panoramic dome is reached by a spiral staircase of 131 steps. But you do not need to tackle them to enjoy the view: from the forecourt you can already see the city stretching out at the foot of the hill.