A walk among the elegance of the Liberty buildings, the trendy stalls of Piazza Benefica, up to the top of the San Paolo skyscraper.
Cit Turin, which in Piedmontese means “little Turin,” is a neighborhood that has changed significantly in recent years. Just a few steps from the historic center and easily accessible (Porta Susa station, Principi d’Acaja metro), it offers an interesting contrast between elegant historic buildings, quiet streets, trendy shops, and some more recent architectural interventions: the new Porta Susa station, Renzo Piano’s skyscraper for Intesa Sanpaolo, and some luxury residential buildings like those in Piazza Bernini. Corso Inghilterra has radically transformed: wide sidewalks, side streets, and a central avenue. Who remembers the iron overpass that allowed crossing the railway to reach Via Cernaia?
In Cit Turin and the adjacent San Donato neighborhood, we find the most beautiful Art Nouveau-style buildings in Turin: the triangle between Corso Francia and Via Cibrario, with its apex at Piazza Statuto, offers the highest density of examples of this architectural style.
Our itinerary begins at the D’Acaja metro stop, on Corso Francia. If you have little time, along this avenue, the longest in Turin, you will find three must-see Liberty-style buildings, close to each other: Fenoglio’s two masterpieces, Casa La Fleur and Villino Raby, and a few steps further towards Piazza Bernini on the other side of the avenue, the spectacular Casa dei Draghi.
Art Nouveau style in Cit Turin and San Donato neighborhoods
Turin is Italy’s capital of Liberty style, better known internationally as Art Nouveau, Modern Style, or Jugendstil, which spread between the late 19th century and early 20th century. The 1902 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts helped popularize Art Nouveau style in Turin.
The Art Nouveau style left a significant mark on many areas of Turin, making the city an important artistic and cultural hub for this style. However, Cit Turin and San Donato are the neighborhoods with the highest concentration of buildings designed in this style, characterized by floral decorations, arabesques, and geometric motifs that give them an elegant and refined appearance.
Let’s start our walk from Corso Francia and embark on a tour to discover the sophistication and creativity of Art Nouveau style.
Casa La Fleur or Casa Fenoglio
At Corso Francia corner Via Principi d’Acaja, right outside the D’Acaja metro stop, it’s impossible not to notice Casa La Fleur, Pietro Fenoglio’s masterpiece and one of Italy’s finest examples of Liberty architecture.
Fenoglio was one of the leading exponents of Italian Art Nouveau, authoring over three hundred projects, many of which were built in the neighborhoods of Cit Turin and San Donato.
In 1902, engineer Fenoglio designed this elegant building as his own home-studio. It features a distinctive bow-window, a glass canopy reminiscent of Paris metro stations, and rooftop pinnacles that evoke Gaudí’s houses. Fenoglio meticulously planned every detail of the building, which became the manifesto of his artistic vision: from the internal doorway to window structures, cast iron radiators, and furnishings. However, he lived there for only a short time before selling it to French entrepreneur La Fleur, from whom the house takes its name.
Villino Raby
A few steps away, at Corso Francia 8, lies another building by Pietro Fenoglio: Villino Raby, now home to the Order of Physicians and Dentists of the Province of Turin.
Casa Tasca
In the inner streets of the triangle where Corso Francia and Via Cibrario meet, with the apex at Piazza Statuto, we find many other examples of Liberty and eclectic buildings such as Casa Tasca at Via Beaumont 3:
or the building at Via Talucchi corner Via Schina:
In the streets near Corso Francia, we find fascinating examples of Neo-Gothic style, such as the house at Via Piffetti 7.
or Casa Masino at Via Piffetti 5, designed with curious eclectic decorations by Giovanni Gribodo in 1908:
Still on Via Piffetti, we find two other projects by Giovanni Gribodo: at number 10, this three-story building with Jugendstil references, and next door, at number 12, the elegant Palazzina Conte.
Back on Corso Francia, at number 32, you can see Casa Macciotta, another project by Pietro Fenoglio.
Palazzo della Vittoria
At the corner of Corso Francia and Via Palmieri, we find the spectacular Casa della Vittoria or Casa dei Draghi, a work by Giovanni Battista Carrera.
The building, characterized by a splendid entrance hall decorated externally with large dragons, has been the location for numerous films. For example, some scenes from “The Great Beauty” by Paolo Sorrentino were filmed here.
Our itinerary continues, we head towards the Piazza Benefica market and the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper.
Go to Via Susa 33, near Piazza Benefica, to admire the sumptuous Palazzo Andaldi, along with the eclectic courtyard featuring a turret nicknamed “Tower Westminster“.
Piazza Benefica and its Market
Leaving Corso Francia and heading towards the heart of Cit Turin, you reach Piazza Benefica, which every Saturday hosts one of the most popular markets in Turin.
Piazza Martini, which all the people of Turin call Piazza Benefica, is the heart of Cit Turin. Here you will find the trendiest market in Turin, where among colorful stalls you can find designer clothes at advantageous prices.
The Intesa Sanpaolo Skyscraper
Continuing the walk, you can reach the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper, designed by Renzo Piano and inaugurated in 2015. This modern skyscraper represents an architectural landmark in Turin, offering a panoramic view of the city.
With its 166 meters in height, the skyscraper is one of the tallest buildings in Italy. It houses offices, a restaurant, and a rooftop greenhouse, offering a unique experience for visitors.
The skyscraper can be visited, and from its panoramic terrace, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Turin and the surrounding Alps.
Cit Turin is a neighborhood that manages to blend history and modernity, offering visitors a unique experience between Liberty architecture, trendy markets, and contemporary buildings.
Curiosity
The Lidia Poët garden
A section of the Palace of Justice park has been dedicated to Lidia Poët, the first Italian woman to be registered with the Bar Association, who became famous for the Netflix TV series with Matilda De Angelis, set in late nineteenth-century Turin.
Most loved places in Cit Turin
TO eat
On the Papille terrace, a bistro in a typical courtyard in via Principi D’acaja or crepes at Bariolè or chic Japanese fusion at Shabu.
TO drink
An aperitivo at the kiosk in the park under the San Paolo skyscraper, or in the cocktail bar at the top of the skyscraper.
TO shop
Among the stalls of the Piazza Benefica market you will find discounted designer clothes.