Valentino Park, a change of scenery guaranteed

The Valentino park in its current configuration dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. Located between the Umberto and Isabella bridges, it extends around the Castello del Valentino. This royal residence of the Savoys, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is now home to the Polytechnique architecture faculty.

Designed in large part by the French architect Barillet-Deschamps, the Valentino park respects the principles of landscaped gardens where nature seems to grow without human intervention. Copses, valleys and hidden paths have been created to give the impression of having been shaped naturally over time.

Staying close to Valentino Park is a good idea if you enjoy a morning jog amongst the trees and birdsong. The Ca'cita guest flat is just a few metres from the park. With a surface area of 30 m2, this functional accommodation can be rented for 75 euros per night for two people.

It's always nice to go for a walk in a city park. It's a chance to suspend time a little, to get away from the hustle and bustle of cars and crowds. Valentino's large park lends itself perfectly to this, with everything you need to get away from it all. Its English-style layout, with paths winding through the trees, gives you the impression of being somewhere else.

👉 A boat trip

From Valentino Park, it is possible to take a fly boat for a trip on the Po and back towards the centre of Turin. For more information, visit the GTT website

👉 A change of scenery guaranteed at the Borgo medievale

This fake medieval village, reconstructed in 1884 for the Italian General Exhibition, imitates the architecture of Piedmontese houses of the time. A fortress towers over it. In fact, this is the fortress that appears on postcards to represent the Valentino park. There are two craft shops (a traditional blacksmith and a paper maker) selling their creations and offering workshops.

👉 The fortress can be visited with a guide!

Admission is free to walk around the Borgo medievale, while the fortress, "la Rocca", can only be visited with the help of a guide. The fortress undergoes regular renovations, so to make sure you can visit on the day of your visit, check out the Borgo medievale website.

Outside and in a wing of the Valentino castle (occupied by the Polytechnic architecture faculty) is the botanical garden. It consists of an outdoor area with groves and botanical flowerbeds, and an indoor area with various greenhouses. The collections of tropical plants and other rare vegetation provide another change of scenery.

Another vestige of the 1898 National Exhibition is the magnificent monumental Fountain of the Twelve Months. Located to the south of Valentino Park, it consists of a waterfall that flows into a large oval basin animated by large jets of water. Surrounding the basin are twelve statues representing the twelve months of the year.

There are several places in the Valentino park where you can have lunch or a snack on the spot or to take away. Here are two with a beautiful view of the River Po. Café Imbarchino offers paninis and vegetarian dishes as well as drinks. This alternative venue also offers a programme of music and films (Imbar Kino), both indoors and outdoors.

The more traditional Imbarco Perosino restaurant, with its terrace on the banks of the River Po, offers a menu of Piedmontese specialities.