How to Get Off the Beaten Path in Turin

Discover another side to Turin with these under-the-radar attractions.

2 min read•Apr 26, 2018•By Mandy Hegarty

A woman stands in a public square and looks out at the architecture of Turin

Hi, I'm Mandy!

Mandy Hegarty is a writer who specializes in food and travel. Currently based in Dublin, Ireland, she’s previously lived in New York, London, and Montreal. She has written for the likes of Time Out New York, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines.

Tourists in Turin tend to make a beeline for Piazza Castello, the Royal Palace, the Shroud of Turin, the Egyptian Museum, and the 548-foot (167-meter) Mole Antonelliana tower. But, if you’re looking to find some hidden gems, you’re going to want to stray from the beaten path—see below for our top picks of alternative attractions in Turin.

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Go underground in Turin

A dark tunnel with rails in Turin metro subway. | Photo Credit: Alessandro Cristiano / Shutterstock

Explore the secret tunnels and shelters beneath your feet.

Many travelers in Turin are unaware that a secret network of tunnels, cellars, and shelters, lies beneath their feet. Visitors can embark on guide-led tours of this subterranean realm, walking through darkened underground corridors—originally built for defensive purposes—and chambers that were once used as air-raid shelters.

Explore Casa Martini

Dry Martini cocktail degustation. | Photo Credit: Marian Weyo / Shutterstock

Try genuine Martini vermouth at the birthplace of a famous drink.

Set within an historic 19th-century building where the well-regarded Martini vermouth was first produced, Casa Martini now serves as home to a wine museum and Mondo Gallery Martini. The former exhibits objects relating to wine-making over the centuries, including Greco-Roman artifacts, while the latter chronicles the history and heritage of Martini & Rossi, one of Italy’s leading alcohol companies.

Tour the Cesare Lombroso Museum of Criminal Anthropology

The Cesare Lombroso Museum of Criminal Anthropology. | Photo Credit: D-VISIONS / Shutterstock

Examine the horrors of this underrated museum.

One of Turin’s best-kept secrets, this thought-provoking museum is set inside the University of Turin. Examine objects from the collection of Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso, including skulls used for study, crime weapons, wax death masks, and scientific equipment.