Things to Do at Palazzo Madama

Palazzo Madama combines a medieval castle foundation with an elegant Baroque facade designed by Filippo Juvarra in 1718, creating Turin's most architecturally complex building. Adult admission costs €10 ($11) for the Civic Museum of Ancient Art, and climbing the 150 steps to the tower's panoramic terrace adds €5 ($5.45) - worth every cent for the views across Turin's geometric street grid. The palace houses over 70,000 decorative art pieces spanning from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period. Inside, your footsteps echo differently depending on whether you're walking across medieval stone floors in the basement or polished parquet in the upper salons. The air carries a mixture of old stone, wood polish, and the faint metallic scent of medieval armor displays. The tower climb leaves most visitors slightly breathless, but the reward is spectacular - Turin spreads below like a living map while the Alps form a dramatic backdrop that changes color throughout the day.

It's incredibly easy to reach since Palazzo Madama is right in Piazza Castello, Turin's main square. If you're coming from Porta Nuova station, you can walk (about 15 minutes through the city center) or take the metro to Castello stop. Trams 4, 6, 7, and 10 all stop nearby. If you're driving, forget about parking right there - your best bet is one of the underground garages like Parcheggio Castello, though honestly, walking from your hotel is probably easier.