Empire to Elegance: Audio Tour of Turin Royal History and Mystery

1 h 30 min – 2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

Empire to Elegance: Audio Tour of Turin Royal History and Mystery, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Turin hasn’t just preserved its past – it’s woven it into the fabric of daily life. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll discover how Roman foundations, medieval power struggles, and royal ambitions shaped this elegant northern Italian city. You’ll find out how Turin evolved from Julius Caesar’s military outpost to the sophisticated first capital of united Italy, while hearing mysterious legends that still haunt its streets. The tour starts at Porta Palatina, the impressive ancient Roman gateway built in the 1st century BCE. Along the way, you’ll discover how the House of Savoy transformed Turin into a royal capital through centuries of strategic diplomacy. You’ll stroll through elegant porticoed streets and historic galleries en route to Palazzo Madama with its contrasting medieval and baroque facades. The tour ends at the Gran Madre di Dio church across the Po River, where some believe the statue points to the hidden location of the Holy Grail.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min – 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Included: App for Android and iOS
Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Transportation
Not included: Food and drink
Not included: Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour

Itinerary

Porta Palatina

Passing by

Marvel at this remarkably preserved Roman gateway dating from the 1st century BCE, featuring massive twin towers and original stonework. Discover where Julius Caesar established the military colony of Iulia Augusta Taurinorum, experiencing the foundations of what would become modern Turin.
Cattedrale Di San Giovanni Battista

Passing by

Explore this Renaissance cathedral that houses the enigmatic Shroud of Turin, Christianity's most studied and controversial relic. Walk through the sacred space where faith, science, and mystery converge in one of Italy's most important religious sites.
Palazzo Reale Di Torino

Passing by

Pass through the magnificent former residence of the House of Savoy, showcasing opulent state apartments and royal gardens. Discover how this powerful dynasty transformed Turin into a sophisticated capital through centuries of strategic diplomacy and artistic patronage.
Galleria San Federico

Passing by

Stroll through this elegant covered shopping gallery with its Art Nouveau details and historic boutiques. Experience the atmospheric arcade where scenes from Dario Argento's horror classic "Profondo Rosso" were filmed in the 1970s.
Piazza San Carlo

Passing by

Walk into Turin's elegant "parlour," a symmetrical baroque square flanked by twin churches and graceful arcades. Enjoy the harmonious architecture surrounding the bronze equestrian statue of Duke Emanuele Filiberto sheathing his sword after the Battle of San Quintino.
Stop 6

Passing by

Marvel at this extraordinary palace featuring a medieval castle on one side and an ornate baroque facade on the other. Explore the layers of Turin's history embodied in this UNESCO World Heritage site that served as the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy.
Teatro Regio Di Torino

Passing by

Pass this prestigious opera house renowned for its exceptional acoustics and neoclassical architecture. Discover one of Italy's leading cultural institutions where world-class performances have graced the stage since 1740.
Mole Antonelliana

Passing by

Admire Turin's iconic 167-meter tower that dominates the skyline and appears on Italian 2-cent euro coins. Experience the city's most recognisable landmark, originally conceived as a synagogue and now home to Italy's National Cinema Museum.
Museo Nazionale del Cinema

Passing by

Explore the world's tallest museum housed within the soaring Mole Antonelliana, dedicated to the art and history of cinema. Discover interactive exhibits spanning film history while enjoying panoramic views of Turin and the Alps from the building's distinctive dome.
Museo Egizio

Passing by

Walk by the world's second-most important Egyptian museum after Cairo, housing an extraordinary collection of ancient artefacts. Marvel at the treasures including mummies, papyri, and monumental statues that reveal 4,000 years of Nile Valley civilisation.
Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento

Passing by

Explore Italy's most important museum dedicated to the Risorgimento, the 19th-century movement that unified the nation. Discover Turin's crucial role as the first capital of united Italy through documents, artefacts, and personal stories of the unification struggle.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

This tour starts at Porta Palatina. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

Tour ends at Chiesa Della Gran Madre di Dio.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]