PIEDMONT CHRONICLE - L'Arvista Piemontèisa

From Piazza Castello, traveling along Via Roma, in a few minutes you will be in a large and elegant (it’s not called the “good salon” of Turin for nothing) Piazza San Carlo. In the center is the Caval d’Brons (the Bronze Horse) and on the south end, two matching churches designed by Filippo Juvarra: Santa Cristina and San Carlo. The long sides of the rectangular piazza are lined with spectacular arcades that are home to bars, boutiques and the legendary food shop, “Paissa” … the window displays say it all! We invite you to visit the following sites – historic cafes and the “Stratta” candy shop, the undisputed master of candied chestnuts and of chocolate:

http://www.caffesancarlo.it/
http://www.cavallodibronzo.it/
http://www.caffe-torino.it/
http://www.stratta1836.it/

Piazza San Carlo can satisfy more than the palate – we remember however, the great “Mokita Caffe” – there are also the refined tastes of fashion, with boutiques like “San Carlo – since 1973” (Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Prada, Gucci), “De Candia abiti”, “Robe di Kappa”, “Gioielleria Garaffo”, “Olympic”, etc.
Everyone in Turin loves to stroll under the porticoes, looking at the shop windows, making themselves comfortable in the cafes, walking around the entire square, passing from one side to the next, crossing the small piazza CLN behind the two small churches. Piazza CLN is beloved by fans of horror film director Dario Argento, who used it in his masterwork “Deep Red”, creating a fiction bar there and taking a cue from American painter Edward Hopper’s famous “Nighthawks”. Some advice: see the film before you come to Piazza CLN…

Still in Piazza CLN -- remaining under the porticoes, a continuation of those in Piazza San Carlo – there are other prestigious shops (Stefanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Feltrinelli) and, a few meters on, turning left along the Via Teofilo Rossi di Montelera, the glass palace of the “La Rinascente” department story (men’s and women’s clothing, perfume, watches, CDs, DVDs, home goods, books, solarium, a cafe, etc.). Don’t forget, in the same street, the Palazzo Bricherasio which hosts world-class art exhibitions. Returning to Piazza CLN and continuing around (refer to the map for help), you will find yourself back in Piazza San Carlo, in from of the magnificent “Caffe Torino” (see the Web site previously indicated), with its two sumptuous rooms inside, which merit a visit and breakfast! Remember also to step on the image of the bull on the sidewalk right outside the entrance. They say it brings good luck!

We end the walk, passing in from of the inviting window of “Paissa”, at the “Olympic” boutique and at the other grand cafe, “Cafe San Carlo” (I urge you to visit the Web site!)

Remain here under the porticoes, cross Via Santa Teresa and proceed toward the San Federico Gallery, another place dubbed the “living room” of Turin, connecting with the very central Via Roma (the photos explain this better than the written word).We suggest checking out the luminous art gallery, “Linearia – Art & Museum Store”, the jewelry shop “Perle Olivero”, the clothing shops “Western Hotel”, “Giorgio Monteverdi Cashmere” and “Emilio Pucci” and also “San Federico Antiques”, “Mille gioielli – artigianato orafo”, the elegant “De Wan” (objects and accessories) and finally the small, gracious “Caffe San Federico”.

Andrea Biscàro