Lingotto is an interesting area of Turin with pleasant green spaces and various cultural attractions. It is home to the vast Lingotto Building, an important symbol of Turin’s industrial past that has now been converted into an entertainment center. See if you can spot the angles that featured in the iconic car chase scene in the original, British version of the movie The Italian Job,starringMichael Caine.
The Lingotto Building was originally designed as a factory for the car manufacturer Fiat. It opened in 1923 and was one of Turin’s major employers until the city’s industrial downturn in the 1980s. Visit today and you will still see how the building was perfectly designed for car production. There is even a wonderful open-air test track on the roof. Wander the stores, restaurants, concert halls and even a theater that now fill this impressive building.
You’ll also find various cultural attractions in the Lingotto Building. Make sure you pay a visit to the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli, an art gallery that houses works by 20th-century greats such as Matisse and Picasso. The striking, off-balance gallery building was designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
Exit the complex to see what lies outside. To the northwest is the lovely Parco d’Arte Vivente (Living Art Park), an art museum with a large open-air section that’s ideal for relaxing outdoors on a sunny day.
Head southwest instead and you may stumble across Hiroshima Mon Amour, a performance venue that plays host to musicians, comedians and other performers of all levels of fame. Check what is on before you come. You may see some local, up-and-coming talent, or someone whose name is known all over the world.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in pleasant Parco Giuseppe Di Vittoria, a popular green space with locals.
Visit Lingotto in any season. The attractions of the Lingotto complex are mostly indoors, making this a great choice whether it is rainy or sunny.
