Torino for the day? Too easy.

Last week my friend Janka invited me to visit Torino (Turin) for the day.  Less than 2 hours by regional train, Torino is an easy day trip from Milan.  While it is a very Italian city - in fact it was the first capital of a United Italy in 1861 - the city actually appears more French than Italian, due to its long history as the capital of the Savoy kingdom when many of the magnificent piazzas and palazzos were built.

The heart of the city is the Piazza Castello.  We made our way there from the station and by mid-morning were seated in the very grand Caffe Barrati & Milano leisurely sipping glasses of bicerin, the deliciously strong mocha coffee for which the cafes of Torino are famous.  

After weeks of rain in Milan, we enjoyed the relief of crisp, sunny autumn air as we strolled along the wide streets and meandered through the beautiful piazzas and parks of this elegant city.

The spire of Torino's most famous building, the Mole Antonelliana, caught our eye and made us think that on such a sparklingly clear day, the views from the top would be spectacular.  And they were.

After enjoying the dazzling views of Torino from the top of the spire, we spent the rest of the day at the Mole as it also houses a small Eataly restaurant and the fascinating  National Museum of Cinema.

Time flew, so as we raced to catch the late afternoon train back to Milan, we both agreed that we will have to return to Torino as there is so much more to see and even more importantly, to taste. There was no time to visit the main Eataly store, where they make the best gelato in Italy!  

Grazie mille Janka per una buona giornata!

Alla prossima per ulteriori avventure autunnali.

Travel details

Regional trains to Torino Porto Nuova leave from Milano Centrale once an hour and cost approx 24.20 Euro return for travel the next day.  

Tickets to the Panoramic Lift and National Film Museum at the Mole Antonelliana cost 14 Euro.   

But wait there's more...
If you'd like to see a little more of this beautiful city, CLICK HERE for a post by my blogging friend Heather of Cafe' Carlson.  She loved Torino in autumn too.  

Cremino in Menaggio & Pralinato in Torino

Perhaps you've heard it's been hot, hot, hot in Milano? Over the past few weeks we've escaped the heat a couple of times so I've taken my gelati tasting challenge to some nearby towns.

In Menaggio, on Lake Como, we followed the crowd to Gelateria Edo. After dinner we joined the rest of Menaggio milling about in the main square puzzling over which flavour of gelati to choose.

For Nic the tub of Nutella meant her choice was made. Too easy. 

I needed a little more research time. Relying on the crucial qualitative research technique of observation, I closely watched the locals to see what was the gelato of choice in Menaggio. As I stood in the middle of the throng a pattern of flavour choice emerged. 

Cremino, the house specialty, was the most frequently chosen.

Taste test

If you like gelato with your Nutella, as Nic does, then her flavour choice was a winner. 

Cremino had a thick swirl of gooey caramel laced through the delicious vanilla gelato. More creamy than I usually enjoy, but once again not too sweet. 

Delicious? Yes.

Perfection? Not quite.

Gelati rating

Nutella  *****

Cremino ****

Several weeks later we didn't quite escape the heat of Milano. We took a fast train to Torino to support Stefano's sister, Carmel, who was playing soccer for the SydneySiders in the World Masters' Games. While we warmed up watching from a shady spectator stand, Carmel ran around on a scorching soccer field.

With our temperatures racing there was only one solution. Walk quickly to the Torino's world famous foodhall Eataly for some cooling gelati.

 

 It was there where we tasted perfection. Pralinato!

Taste test

Pralinato - large chunks of caramel coated almonds are generously studded through the smooth, light vanilla gelato making an exquisite combination of texture and flavour. Perfection!

   

Gelati rating *****+

Pralinato was similar to, but even better than, the previously reviewed Croccante. 

The winning detail was the abundance of crunchy toffee almonds.

Delightedly tasting perfection - Pralinato! Carmel with her team mate Leanne.

Try them here
Gelateria Edo
Piazzia Garibaldi, Menaggio

Eataly
via Nizza 230/14 
10126 Turin

 We are planning a return trip to Torino in Autumn. Are you surprised?