If you are planning a trip to Turin, here are the three parks not to be missed - Valentino, Parco Ruffini and the Royal Gardens.
In the summertime Torino it becomes hot and muggy, but fleeing to the Ligurian coast is not the only solution. Among the thousand cultural activities, museums, exhibitions and the lively nightlife, Turin also has a green heart. For a relaxing afternoon or a picnic on the lawn you don't need to go too far from the center, on the contrary, in some cases you can see the Mole emerge among the trees. The parks offer not only refreshment from the sun but also yoga classes outdoors, training courses and parties for all tastes.
Reachable on foot or by bike from the city center, each park is also well connected by public transport.
1. Parco del Valentino
The second largest park in Turin is also one of the oldest. The Valentino Park it offers a long naturalistic and cultural walk along the Po river.
In addition to the large green and shaded areas, the Parco del Valentino hosts the Medieval village, erected in 800 on the occasion of the Universal Exposition, and the Valentino Castle, from which the park takes its name, one of the royal residences of the Savoy family. In June, moreover, you have the opportunity to admire the latest automotive innovations at the Auto Show, or during the year the temporary art exhibitions.
To see Turin from a different point of view, take advantage of the tourist boats Valentino II and Valentina II, as soon as they return to operation. There are also kiosks along the river and parties organized every summer with music and dancing.
2. Ruffini Park
located Borgo San Paolo, in the residential heart of Turin, the Ruffini park it is a great place for sports and picnics. Between the cycle path and the large green areas, there are the Palazzetto dello Sport, renovated and redeveloped only a few years ago, and the Athletics Stadium. But that is not all. You can also find tennis courts, soccer fields, five-a-side football and skating rinks for athletes of all ages. An area with fitness equipment has also been built for a couple of years.
Despite being in a non-tourist area, it is still well connected from the city center by both bus and tram.
3. Royal Gardens
I Lower Royal Gardens they are the favorite point of relaxation and study for university students. While lying comfortably in the sun you can see the Mole Antonelliana among the trees. The Lower Royal Gardens have always been open to the public and are located behind Piazza Castello, separated from the Upper Royal Gardens by the ramparts of the city. They can be traveled by bicycle through Viale Primo Maggio and Viale dei Partigiani, both shaded by 150 lime trees.
On the contrary, i Royal Gardens belonging to the Royal Palace they are an area circumscribed by the palace walls themselves and are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 to 16 in winter and until 19 in summer. These Gardens offer a walk through the nineteenth-century landscape architecture, between fountains, well-pruned flower beds, up to the grove where the Precious Stones installation is located. It is a work made up of fire-damaged marbles from the Chapel of the Holy Shroud designed by Guarino Guarini in the seventeenth century.
If you want to discover a different and even greener Turin, you have to cross the Po and discover the hilly area of the city, or even higher up to Superga. There is certainly no shortage of green areas in Turin.
