Turin

Turin is one of Italy’s unsung heroes. Though it is often omitted from the classic tourist trail, the city boasts refined architecture and cuisine, and a thriving Contemporary Arts scene that blossomed after the 2006 Winter Olympics gave the city a much-needed economic boost. As the capital of the Piedmont region of northern Italy, Turin is flanked by the Alps, while the city center is home to many must-see places.

Stately baroque buildings and old cafes line Turin's boulevards and grand squares such as Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo. Nearby is the soaring spire of the Mole Antonelliana, a 19th-century tower housing the interactive National Cinema Museum.