This Turin Tour Is the Perfect Spooky Season Activity
Lucifer, the Holy Shroud, masonic symbols, and a haunted ballroom are just a few of the surprises that await.
Said to sit at the intersection of a white magic triangle (featuring Prague and Lyon) and black magic triangle (with London and San Francisco), Turin has a reputation for magic and mystery.
Its 2,000-year history of power struggles, and political intrigue, as well as the presence of the Holy Shroud and a thriving Tarot industry, have given rise to urban legends that include a portal to hell and a cursed ballroom.
I’ve always been drawn to the occult, so although I’m not a big tour person (they make me feel like a tourist. Which I am. But going on one feels like admitting it), I knew I wanted to explore Turin’s darker side.
The Torino Magica Tour has been on my wishlist for a while, and it’s the perfect activity if you’re visiting the city this spooky season. Here’s what to expect.
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Victoria Peel-Yates
What Is the Torino Magica Tour?
The original Torino Magica tour is run by Somewhere Tours & Events and blends history, urban legend, and theatrical storytelling.
Starting in Piazza Statuto, considered the most negative point of the city, and ending one kilometre away in Piazza Castello, considered the most positive, the tour passes through some of Turin’s most enigmatic and gruesome sites, offering a crash course in local lore and royal history.
The tour lasts between 2-2.5 hours, and includes a mix of transport by taxi or coach and walking.
Note that this is different from the underground tour, Torino Sotterranea, which is also run by Somewhere Tours.
Torino Magica Tour: When, Where, & How to Book
The Torino Magica group tour takes place on Thursday and Saturday evenings, and is most atmospheric in autumn and winter when the fog rolls in from the mountains after dark. Private tours offer more flexibility around dates and times. The English tour is limited to six people, while the Italian tour’s capacity is up to fifty.
Booking directly on the Somewhere Tours website is usually the cheapest option, but GetYourGuide offers payments in your own currency and an app to manage all your bookings, which is handy if you’re juggling multiple activities.
Check availability and book your spot on the tour. (affiliate link)
The Torino Magica Itinerary
Without giving away too many spoilers, here’s an overview of the Torino Magica tour itinerary.
Piazza Statuto
Meet your guide in Piazza Statuto to learn about its dark past, and the occult symbolism hidden in the statue at its centre.
Rondò della Forca
Discover a place that was home to social saints while also being scene of some of Turin’s most gruesome public executions, giving rise to a popular Piedmontese expression.
Piazza Palazzo di Città
The scene of the last person condemned to death for witchcraft in Turin in 1710 for plotting against the Duke.
Piazza Solferino
A 19th-century square with Masonic messages encoded in the architecture and Angelica Fountain.
Via Vittorio Alfieri & the Devil's Door
Let this street of scary faces surprise you, then discover the urban legends surrounding the Devil’s Door at Palazzo Trucchi di Levaldigi.
Piazza San Carlo
Named after Saint Carlo Borromeo, the Bishop of Milan, you’ll learn about this Baroque square’s connection to Nostradamus and the Holy Shroud.
Piazza Castello
The tour ends at this royal square, where your guide will reveal why it’s considered the city’s most positive point.
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Victoria Peel-Yates
Is the Torino Magica Tour Worth It? The Verdict
The Torino Magica Tour is a fun and accessible way to discover the history and legends that form Turin’s magical reputation. If you’re a serious history buff who likes your sources cited, this might not be for you.
My favourite parts were Piazza Statuto, with its multi-layered past that makes it the city's most "negative" point, and Piazza Solferino, with its masonic symbolism that reflected a period of profound political change. The story that surprised me most was the witchcraft condemnation in Piazza Palazzo di Città.
I found the reason for Piazza Castello being the most positive point less compelling, but you'll have to judge for yourself.
Book the Torino Magica tour. (affiliate link)
