Piedmont & Liguria attractions

Among the most striking buildings on Turin’s Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama is half fortified medieval castle and half sumptuous baroque palace. The building now houses the city’s Civic Museum of Ancient Art (Museo Civico di Arte Antica), with a sprawling collection spanning from the Roman era to the 18th century.

Home to the Museo di Arte Contemporanea (Museum of Contemporary Art) since 1984, this restored royal Savoy residence outside Turin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the sumptuous castle interiors, visit contemporary exhibitions, and view the remarkable Cerruti Collection of art spanning seven centuries, set to be unveiled in 2019.

Genoa has been known for its connection to the water for centuries, and one of the best views of the Mediterranean Sea can be found along the Corso Italia promenade. The 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) stretch of sidewalk curves around the coastline with ample space for walking, jogging, and even sunbathing on the beaches along the route.

Set on a hilltop overlooking the Castello district, Genoa’s Basilica of Santa Maria di Castello (Basilica di Santa Maria di Castello) is one of the most important churches in this bustling port city. Part of a larger religious complex including a convent and museum, the Romanesque basilica is home to important works by many of Genoa’s best known artists.

A large square located just behind Old Port (Porto Antico), Piazza Caricamento is the entryway to Genoa’s historic city center. This waterfront plaza is generally less crowded than Porto Antico and features ample space to people-watch. The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is the main must-see landmark in the plaza.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Valentino Castle (Castello del Valentino) is one of Turin’s most noteworthy landmarks. Situated in the Parco del Valentino and a former House of Savoy royal residence, the castle is today used by the local university and is occasionally open to the public.

Serving up some of the most memorable views of the colorful village below, Castello Brown tops the list of Portofino’s panoramic perches. This medieval castle was converted to a lavish private residence in the 19th century and today is a popular venue for VIP weddings and star-studded events. Take the 10-minute walk uphill to the landmark for sky-high vistas over Portofino’s bay.

Genoa’s Palazzo Rosso, or Red Palace, was built in the 1670s as a private home for the wealthy Brignole-Sale family. Donated to the city 200 years later, it was turned into an art museum featuring works by Veronese, Strozzi, and van Dyck. The palace is located in the heart of Genoa’s historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Like many of Genoa’s important churches and palaces, the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is rather plain on the outside. Inside, however, magnificent Baroque interiors surprise with enormous frescoes framed by sumptuous gold stucco—a dramatic testimony to the former wealth of this historic marine republic.

Set next to the aquarium on Genoa’s revitalized historic port, La Biosfera is a small futuristic glass-and-steel sphere that houses a tiny self-contained microclimate. Populated by a chatty parrot, fish, and reptiles, the miniature tropical botanical garden is a delightful refuge from the bustle of the crowded port.

At Mercato Centrale Torino, a contemporary addition to Turin’s Porta Palazzo on the Piazza della Repubblica, dozens of artisans sell goods and cook up a variety of dishes. This 4,500-square-foot (420-square-meter) market has more than 26 food stalls, a mill, a roastery, and a culinary school spread out across three floors.

Also known as Juventus Stadium, this world-class soccer venue is known simply as “lo stadium” in Turin. It’s the kicking ground of the popular Serie A soccer team Juventus, and it’s a modern venue that suits its top-performing team well. If you’re not there to watch a match, you can enter on a tour and visit the on-site Juventus Museum, which showcases more than a few trophies to check out.

Pretty inside and out, the medieval hill town of La Morra has both a delightful historic center and gorgeous surrounding wine country, part of the UNESCO-listed Le Langhe. La Morra is one of the main villages in the heart of Piedmont’s Barolo-producing vineyards, and a popular destination for wine lovers.

Turin’s Turin Duomo (Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista)contains the Holy Shroud of Turin (Sacra Sindone), one of the world’s most famous and debated religious relics. Faithful and curious visitors from around the globe come to view this linen cloth believed by some to have been laid over Jesus’ body after his crucifixion.

Set just outside Turin, this small zoo is an ideal family-friendly break from the bustle of the city. Covering 45 acres, the park is home to 300 animals representing 80 African and Asian species born exclusively in European zoos. With open-air habitats, daily talks, and interactive activities, a visit here is both fun and educational.

Alba is best known for its UNESCO-listed countryside and its precious white truffles, but this town in Piedmont has a history that dates back to ancient Rome. Explore this past by heading deep below the town center to admire Roman ruins—including a temple, forum, theater, and domus—as well as medieval tower foundations.

Via San Lorenzo is a historic street that runs from the Porto Antico to the stately San Lorenzo Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo) in Genoa’s city center. The lovely street is named for the 12th-century black-and-white striped cathedral of the same name, which is home to holy relics and a beautifully frescoed interior.

Challenge your senses and test your perception as you wander through a series of interactive exhibits in complete darkness. A full contrast to the kaleidoscope of colors in the nearby aquarium, Genoa’s Dialogue in the Dark Exhibition (Dialogo nel Buio) is a fascinating experience for visitors of all ages.

Of Italy’s many monumental cemeteries, Genoa’s grand Staglieno Cemetery just outside the center is one of the most beautiful. Opened in 1851, the cemetery is among the largest in Europe. Its wealth of exquisite statuary makes it an open-air museum as well as one of the most fascinating sights in this historic port city.

With its square keep and imposing towers perched on the hilltop above the village of Serralunga, the 14th-century Serralunga d'Alba Castle draws the eye from miles around and boasts an idyllic location overlooking the UNESCO-listed landscape of Le Langhe-Roero, famous for its prestigious Barolo vineyards.

The Port of Savona—one of Italy's largest—is a modern cruise port located in Savona’s historic center. While there's little to do in Savona proper, the port serves as the ideal jumping-off point from which to explore the Italian Riviera’s coastal towns and Mediterranean beaches, including the nearby city of Genoa.

Built in the 1530s for the Grimaldi family, Palazzo Bianco stands in the historical heart of Genoa. The mansion later came into the possession of the wealthy Brignole-Sale family, owners of nearby Palazzo Rosso. Today both homes are part of the Strada Nuova Museums, with Palazzo Bianco featuring European paintings from the 12th to 18th century.

Nineteenth-century Italian painter Edoardo Chiossone spent more than 20 years in Japan, where he amassed a significant collection of Japanese art. Bequeathed to the Ligurian Academy of Fine Arts, his collection formed the basis of the Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art (Museo d'Arte Orientale Edoardo Chiossone).

Some of the most popular churches in Italy are clad in marble from Ornavasso, found deep inside the mountains near Lake Maggiore. The Antica Cava di Ornavasso offers a glimpse into the history of quarrying marble, from open-air trenches to massive modern tunnels.

One of the prettiest churches in the Cinque Terre, the 14th-century Chiesa di San Pietro is worth the hike to the clifftop town of Corniglia. Admire its stark facade decorated by an elegant lunette and rose window in white marble from nearby Carrara, then take in the art-filled baroque interiors with a 12th-century baptismal font, ornate altar, and polyptych from the 17th century by local painter Prospero Luxardi.

One of the largest cathedrals in Piedmont, the Asti Cathedral (or Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) was mostly built during the 14th century, with a bell tower that dates back to the 13th century. The interior is notable for its artwork and other decorative elements, from frescoes and paintings to an intricate mosaic floor. While the church is open to the public daily, it is an active parish and does not welcome visitors during the hours of services and special events.

One of the oldest churches in Asti, Collegiata di San Secondo (Collegiate Church of Saint Secundus) is located on a scenic square in the heart of the city. This Catholic church is a destination for its striking architecture, including its baroque altar and a three-nave structure with tall arches, and artwork dating back to the 16th century. Seeing the crypt beneath the church, where the remains of Saint Secundus are kept, is another popular reason to visit.

One of Asti’s most beautiful historic palaces, Palazzo Mazzetti is now home to a museum of wide-ranging objects and art. This landmark is notable for its architecture and baroque decoration, plus its collection of porcelain, paintings, and sculptures, complemented by temporary exhibitions. Visitors who are interested in an in-depth experience can make a reservation in advance for a 1- or 2-hour guided tour.

The site of an enormous, modern basilica on a hilltop near Asti, the religious complex of Colle Don Bosco is based around the home where a local saint, Don Bosco, was born. The church itself offers services for both regular Mass and festivals, and the complex also includes a museum to learn about the works of Don Bosco, and more general Italian history focused on rural life.