Unlock the digestive of free editor
Roula Khalaf, the FT editor, chooses her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Torino has a reputation of being cold and industrial – Fiat, a car manufacturer, is one of his most famous exports. But the city has many other angles as well. For me, born and raised here, Turin is the hidden gem of Italy. As well as family friendly, it is very charming: there is a river, hills and parks such as Parco del Valentino, an island of nature in the River Po. You can see the mountains from the city and go to the ski within an hour.
I left Turin when I was 19 to study at Bocconi University in Milan, and now I live between London and Bergamos, with my brand’s main warehouses, production offices and nearby factories. I still go back to Turin once or twice a year-stay in Principi Di Piedmonte, a five-star hotel downtown. The hotel has an amazing view of the Alps, Hills and Mole Antonelliana, a tower in shape like a glass of champagne that houses the Nazionale Museo del Cinema.


I noticed that I buy my clothes while I am in Turin because I know where to go. Via Lagrange is a new area with high level boutiques, but I have gone to Sebastian Turin for shirts since I was a child: Everything can be completely stretched and personalized for each client. The locals dress in humble elegance, while in Milan you feel the business element of the city in people’s clothing. When I started my business, I wanted to bring the way I knew home from home to a global client.
San Carlo Dal 1973 is another favorite clothing store that opened by its founder, Giorgina, in the 1970s. There is an amazing environment: I was inspired by her in my flag stores, where I recreated typical Turin salon, serving aperitivo over the weekend. L’Abrida Bottega is Torino’s response to Daunt books.


Torino is a city where you walk everywhere. Now it’s a subway, but not when I was growing up in Crocetta, a neighborhood near the city center. I like to walk here, especially through arcadesTraditional covered crossings built as arches under buildings. When it rains, you can walk for miles without getting wet. Portici passed through two of the city’s main squares, Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello. Among the two is a small fantastic square, Piazza Carignano, who is a very Italian old school and contains my favorite restaurant, Del Cambio. Italy’s first prime minister, Camillo Benso, had eaten there: he is only far from Palazzo Carignano, the former Parliament of Italy, so they could call him again if something was happening. The food there is like being transported again 200 years.


While Del Cambio is good for excellent expensive eating, Porto Di Savona offers an experience for everyone, serving authentic Piedmont osteria-style. I love Vitello tonnato, a beef plate cut with a mayonnaise made of tone and anchovies invented in Turin, and agnolotti, pasta filled with meat. Turin is also famous for its red wines and truffles: if you visit in the Truffle season – November and early December – you should try them. For coffee and cakes in an old school environment, go to Stratta, Pfatisch or Caffè Turin.
The Agnelli family, who founded Fiat, has done much to put Turin on the map. They own one of his football clubs, Juventus, the team I support; A game between Juventus and other city team, Turino FC, is something you don’t want to miss. They also run an annual week of technology in the city and own the Pinacoteca Agnelli Gallery (which occupies the last floor and traces of roof test in the former Fiat cars) and the Nazionale dell’automobile, one of the most beautiful museums in the city. Museo Egizio, another favorite, is one of the largest Egyptian museums outside Cairo.
The good thing for Turin is that it is always the same. Its architecture is also sophisticated – is often referred to as small Paris – and humble. It is not in all tourist maps, but this is its beauty. It is a fantastic place for people who love Italy.
Bars, cafes and restaurants
Torino Caffetorino1903.it
Of changing Delcambio.it
Shameless pfatisch.com
Port of Savona Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 2, 10123
blow Stratta1836.it
shopping
Hybrid shop Libidabottega.it
San Carlo since 1973 Sancarlodal1973.com
Sebastian Turino sebastianorino.com
Things to do
Mole Antoneliana Via Montebello 20, 10124
Egyptian Museoegizio.it
National museum of Torino machine Museoauto.com
National Cinema Museum Muzeocinema.it
Karignano Through the Academy of Sciences 5, 10123
Pinacoteca Agnelli Pinacoteca-Agnelli.it
Where to stay
Principles of Piedmont Grouppouuna.it