Pinacoteca Agnelli & Fiat Lingotto Factory

Turin

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DESTINATIONS italy torino Do & See Pinacoteca Agnelli & Fiat Lingotto Factory

Pinacoteca Agnelli & Fiat Lingotto Factory

Pinacoteca Agnelli is an art gallery that displays art from a vast private collection. You'll find Renoir's Blonde Bather and Manet's La Négresse, as well as works by Matisse, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Canova, Picasso and Modigliani. The futuristic "crystal spaceship" pavilion is an attraction in itself. The Pinacoteca is perched on top of the Lingotto complex — the headquarters of the Italian auto giant Fiat, founded by Giovanni Agnelli. It was built as a car factory in the 1920s, and was the largest and most modern plant of its kind in Europe. A winding brutalist ramp took cars to the top of the building, where they could drive the 500 m long test track. The ramp and the test track are still in top-notch condition, but the building itself now serves a different function. While its exterior remained largely unaltered, the interior was revived to house an exhibition centre, a conference centre and auditorium, two hotels, offices and shops. The iconic ‘Bubble’ — a transparent meeting room on the roof — was also added.

Do & See

Turin's vivid history still colours the atmosphere of the entire city. Walking in the streets of Turin, its past as capital of the richest reign of Southern Europe is plain to see: stunning palaces, squares and arches cover the entire city centre, giving to it a magic aura. Some of the most important museums in Italy are right here, too. Don't miss the Egyptian Museum (second only to the one in Cairo), and the Museum of Cinema located in the building-symbol of the city — Mole Antonelliana. Besides art and history, you can also enjoy open air activities. The city centre with its huge park Valentino is a vibrant space for old and young alike. Just outside the city, dozens of Savoy's estates beckon you with their lavish gardens and parks. Last but not least, if you are a sport enthusiast, don't miss to visit Piedmont's ski runs — among the best in the Alps!