Great food, lots of historic buildings and churches, an awesome movie museum, and the opera – a weekend trip to the northern Italian city of Turin turned out to be very entertaining.

From Germany, Turin is just a short flight away. And from the Turin-Caselle Airport, you can take the bus downtown. Just make sure you have the ticket you buy at the airport stamped on the bus. Otherwise, you risk running into trouble with the ticket inspector and have to pay a fine as if you hadn’t purchased a ticket at all.

If you want the real Italian feeling, stay in one of the old hotels – e.g. the Grand Hotel Sitea. Their breakfast buffet is to die for. From there, you can explore the city on foot.

Just got to Turin and want a quick bite? How about one of the spicy little pizzas at La Pinseria at Via Barbaroux: Italian “street food”.

The Mole Antonelliana, a national landmark (picture at top of post), is also within walking distance (you know, Europeans walk a lot…). It was built at the end of the 19th century, and originally planned as a synagoge. I recommend taking the glass elevator to the top – you will get a nice view of the city.

Taking the elevator will also give you a special view of the movie museum that is inside the Mole. If you love movies, you will love this museum and easily spend hours their, checking out all the themed rooms and niches and artefacts.

If you have spent enough time indoors, you can walk to the Cathedral. I did not go in or check out the world famous shroud (I guess I have to come back), but instead climbed the bell tower. Not for the faint-hearted, I can tell you.

But the view, again, is worth it.

If you want to do something in the evening besides having dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants like Clapsy Torino, there is always the Opera. I was lucky and watched the New York Harlem Theatre’s soloists and chorus perform “Porgy and Bess”.

It was an awesome weekend. A friend of mine told me, however, to better not go there during the peak of the summer – shops apparently are closed, because everyone is at the beach. So check it out before you go.