Beneath the elegant squares and Baroque porticoes of Torino lies a parallel world of tunnels, crypts, air-raid shelters and secret passages. Exploring underground Torino means discovering centuries of history that the surface does not tell.
The World War II air-raid shelters are perhaps the most moving chapter. During the Allied bombings, thousands of Torinesi found refuge in a network of tunnels dug beneath the city. Today some of these spaces have been restored and opened to the public, with the original writing still visible on the walls. The tour of Carceri Le Nuove and the air-raid shelter is one of the best ways to experience this.
The royal ice-houses beneath the Royal Gardens are another surprise. These huge underground structures were used by the Savoy court to store ice harvested in winter, and their architecture is remarkably sophisticated for the period.
The crypt of the Cattedrale di San Giovanni, where the Holy Shroud is kept, hides early Christian spaces dating back to the first centuries of Christianity in Torino. Those who want to delve deeper into the city's mysterious side can join the legendary Torino Magica Tour, which crosses the places linked to esoteric tradition.
Finally, the Pietro Micca tunnels recount the heroic episode of the French siege of 1706, when the Piedmontese soldier sacrificed his own life by blowing up the galleries to halt the enemy advance. The museum dedicated to him allows you to descend into the original tunnels — a claustrophobic but unforgettable experience.
The World War II air-raid shelters are perhaps the most moving chapter. During the Allied bombings, thousands of Torinesi found refuge in a network of tunnels dug beneath the city. Today some of these spaces have been restored and opened to the public, with the original writing still visible on the walls. The tour of Carceri Le Nuove and the air-raid shelter is one of the best ways to experience this.
The royal ice-houses beneath the Royal Gardens are another surprise. These huge underground structures were used by the Savoy court to store ice harvested in winter, and their architecture is remarkably sophisticated for the period.
The crypt of the Cattedrale di San Giovanni, where the Holy Shroud is kept, hides early Christian spaces dating back to the first centuries of Christianity in Torino. Those who want to delve deeper into the city's mysterious side can join the legendary Torino Magica Tour, which crosses the places linked to esoteric tradition.
Finally, the Pietro Micca tunnels recount the heroic episode of the French siege of 1706, when the Piedmontese soldier sacrificed his own life by blowing up the galleries to halt the enemy advance. The museum dedicated to him allows you to descend into the original tunnels — a claustrophobic but unforgettable experience.