Contemporary Turin: 1-day itinerary between art and repurposed architecture

If you think Turin is only about Baroque palaces and traditional museums, prepare to change your mind. This one-day itinerary takes you to discover a contemporary and vibrant Turin, away from the usual tourist trails. We start at the National Cinema Museum in the Mole Antonelliana, a unique immersive experience, then explore repurposed spaces like Parco Dora, a former industrial area transformed into a green lung with artistic installations. We'll move towards the Lingotto, where the former Fiat factory houses the Pinacoteca Agnelli and the Hanging Garden, offering breathtaking views. We'll have lunch at one of the trendy spots in the San Salvario district, known for its multicultural vibe and street art. The afternoon will be dedicated to modern art at the GAM - Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, with works by Italian and international artists. We'll conclude with a relaxing stroll at Parco del Valentino, along the Po River, perfect for admiring the sunset. This route is ideal for those seeking regenerated industrial architecture, urban parks, and creativity, offering a fresh and dynamic view of the city. All stops are easily accessible on foot or by public transport, making the itinerary practical and accessible even for those with limited time.

🗺️ Your trip at a glance

This one-day itinerary explores contemporary Turin through its modern art spaces and repurposed industrial architecture. An alternative route that combines creativity, urban regeneration, and green spaces, perfect for an intense yet accessible day.

Ideal for curious travelers looking for an alternative to classic tourist circuits who want to discover the city's innovative and regenerated side.

Highlights: 6 stops among contemporary art museums in former factories, repurposed multifunctional spaces, and urban parks born from industrial areas, with an interactive map for easy navigation.

Perfect for those who love modern art, regenerated industrial architecture, and want an experience off the beaten path, all condensed into one day.

Itinerary stops

Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation

Officine Grandi Riparazioni

Parco Dora (Michelin area)

PAV Parco Arte Vivente

Merz Foundation

Ettore Fico Museum

Stop no. 1

Back to index

Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation

Start your day in Turin with a burst of creativity at the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation. Don't expect a classic museum: this space, carved out of a former factory in the Lingotto area, has an industrial atmosphere that blends perfectly with often bold installations. The exhibitions here are constantly changing, ranging from emerging artists to established international names, and there's always something that makes you stop and reflect – sometimes even raising an eyebrow, but that's part of the experience. I love how the large halls, with their high ceilings and white walls, give the artworks room to breathe, without feeling crowded. The bookshop is a little gem for those seeking art catalogues or design objects, and the internal café is a quiet corner to take a break, perhaps flipping through a specialized magazine. If you're lucky, you might come across a guided tour or an artist talk – always check the website before you go, because the programming is lively and unpredictable. A place that, in my opinion, captures Turin's innovative spirit better than many others.

You should go if...

This place is for those seeking stimulation beyond the familiar, for the curious traveler who isn't satisfied with the usual masterpieces and wants to discover what's brewing in today's art scene. Perfect for those who love to ask questions, not just admire.

Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation

Stop no. 2

Back to index

Officine Grandi Riparazioni

Leave the historic center behind and head towards Corso Castelfidardo, where the Officine Grandi Riparazioni welcomes you with its imposing industrial architecture. This place, once dedicated to train maintenance, has been repurposed into a multifunctional space hosting temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, installations, and cultural events. Walking through its vast naves, with the original metal structures still visible, gives the impression of traversing a piece of Turin's history that has managed to reinvent itself. Personally, I love how light filters through the large windows, creating plays of shadows that enhance the exhibited works. It's a place that speaks of transformation, where the industrial past dialogues with the most current artistic expressions, perfectly in line with the 'Contemporary Turin in a Day' itinerary. It's not just a stop, but an experience that captures the essence of a city in continuous evolution.

You should go if...

Visitors to the OGR are curious travelers, interested in discovering how cities reinterpret their industrial heritage through contemporary art and culture, away from the more beaten paths.

Officine Grandi Riparazioni

Stop no. 3

Back to index

Parco Dora (Michelin area)

After exploring the Officine Grandi Riparazioni, the route heading north of the city leads you to Parco Dora, a place that tells a story of urban rebirth. Here, where Michelin factories once stood, you now find a vast public park with extensive green areas, cycling and walking paths, and repurposed metal structures that become open-air sculptures. I love how rusty beams and old silos blend with native plants, creating a visual contrast that speaks of transformation. It's an ideal spot for a relaxing break, perhaps sitting on one of the benches to watch the locals who use it daily. Personally, I find it fascinating how this space, once a symbol of heavy industry, has become an example of environmental and social regeneration, perfectly in line with the "Contemporary Turin in a Day" itinerary. There are also play areas for children and spaces for temporary events, making it a dynamic and ever-changing place.

You should go if...

Those who choose Parco Dora are travelers attentive to urban sustainability, interested in discovering how cities give new life to abandoned industrial spaces, creating places for community and beauty.

Parco Dora (Michelin area)

Stop no. 4

Back to index

PAV Parco Arte Vivente

Leaving behind the industrial traces of Parco Dora, the fourth step of "Contemporary Turin in a Day" takes you to a place that feels almost like an ecological experiment. The PAV Parco Arte Vivente, on Via Giordano Bruno, is not a traditional museum: here, art blends organically with the landscape. I'm struck by how the installations, often made from natural or recycled materials, change with the seasons, creating an ever-evolving experience. Inside, you'll find temporary exhibitions exploring themes like sustainability and ecology, while outside the park extends with paths through native plants and interactive artworks. Personally, I love how this space challenges the idea of what a museum can be, inviting reflection on the relationship between humans and the environment. It's a place that encourages you to slow down, perfect for those seeking a contemplative break after the previous stops on the itinerary.

You should go if...

Visitors to PAV are curious travelers interested in experimental art and sustainability, who appreciate places where creativity and nature meet in innovative ways.

PAV Parco Arte Vivente

Stop no. 5

Back to index

Merz Foundation

Following the immersive experience at PAV, the fifth stop of "Contemporary Turin in a Day" takes you to a place that tells a story of urban transformation. The Merz Foundation, on Via Limone, occupies a former 1930s thermal power plant—an industrial building that now hosts contemporary art exhibitions. I love how the original architecture, with its large windows and brick structures, interacts with modern installations, creating a fascinating contrast. Here, you'll find works by international artists, often addressing social and political themes, in spacious, bright areas that encourage reflection. Personally, I appreciate how this place maintains a certain authenticity, without being overly "polished" or museum-like. It's a corner of Turin that shows how the city can reinvent itself, perfect for those seeking an alternative to traditional circuits.

You should go if...

Visitors to the Merz Foundation are travelers attentive to urban transformations, who appreciate places where history and creativity blend in surprising and stimulating ways.

Merz Foundation

Stop no. 6

Back to index

Ettore Fico Museum

Leaving the Merz Foundation behind, the final stop of "Contemporary Turin in a Day" takes you to a neighborhood that was once the city's industrial heart. The Ettore Fico Museum, on Via Francesco Cigna, occupies a converted former faucet factory, a 1950s building that now hosts temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. I'm struck by how the spacious, bright interiors, with their concrete structures and large windows, create a unique atmosphere for the displayed works. Here you'll mainly find 20th-century Italian artists, with special attention to Ettore Fico's legacy, but also international exhibitions ranging from painting to installations. Personally, I appreciate how this museum is somewhat off the beaten path, offering a tranquil and reflective pause. It's a place that tells the story of Turin's transformation from an industrial city to a cultural hub, perfect for those wanting to discover a lesser-known side of the city.

You should go if...

Visitors to the Ettore Fico Museum are travelers curious about 20th-century art, seeking authentic places where creativity blends with industrial history in surprising and intimate ways.

Ettore Fico Museum