What to see in Turin

Egyptian Museum

The world's second-largest collection of Egyptian antiquities after Cairo, housed in the austere Palazzo dell'Accademia delle Scienze. Statues, papyri and the famous Temple of Ellesiya. Official site: Museo Egizio.

Tip: Book the early slot - it is the most visited museum in Italy and queues grow fast.

Mole Antonelliana and the National Cinema Museum

The 167-meter spire that is the symbol of Turin, built in the 19th century and now home to the National Cinema Museum, with a panoramic lift to the top. The view over the Alps from the summit is one of Italy's great urban panoramas. Official site: Museo Nazionale del Cinema.

Tip: Ride the glass elevator up at sunset for golden light over the city.

Palazzo Carignano and the Risorgimento Museum

The baroque palace where the first Italian Parliament met in 1861, now the National Museum of the Risorgimento - the story of how Italy became a nation, told in the rooms where it happened. Official site: Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano.

Royal Palace and the Savoy residences

The sumptuous Royal Palace of Turin, seat of the Savoy dynasty, opens onto the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (see the official Shroud site). The palace is the heart of a whole ring of UNESCO-listed royal residences - see Residenze Reali Sabaude.

Tip: The palace interiors and the chapel are best visited with the combined royal residences ticket.

Reggia di Venaria Reale

The Savoy hunting palace transformed into a baroque Versailles, with vast gardens, a great gallery and the spectacular Fountain of the Stag. Twenty minutes from the center and worth a full morning. Official site: Reggia di Venaria.

Basilica di Superga

The great hilltop basilica of 1731, built after a royal vow, where most of the Savoy kings are buried. The terrace offers one of the finest views in Piedmont - the city below, the river loop, and the Alps beyond. Official site: Basilica di Superga.

Tip: Take the historic rack railway from Sassi station up the hill for the classic approach.