“I’ve got a great idea,” said Mrs H, so we caught a TGV south to the capital of Italy’s Piedmont region. Turin is famous for its location, at the foot of the Alps, its cuisine, architecture and rich heritage, and also as centre of the FIAT empire. We were all set to explore its restaurants, churches, towering Mole Antonelliana and its spectacular piazzas, but something else was on my mind – a classic British movie.

Must-see sights

In 1969, ‘The Italian Job’ gave Turin – and BMC’s Mini – priceless promotion. Over 72 hours, as we strolled Turin’s famous porticos, visited the Turin Shroud and wandered by the River Po, it was also easy to seek out locations that gave the film its enduring status.

In the movie, Charlie Croker’s team based themselves at the suburban Villa della Regina. We stayed more centrally at the stylish NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina, near the historic Quadrilatero, main stations and those famous historical, architectural and, er, car chase locations.

Central Turin’s must-see sights are easily walkable. As you do, it’s easy to imagine three red, white and blue Mini Coopers zipping past with boots full of gold. The grand interior staircases of Palazzo Madama, Via Roma’s Baroque porticos, the elegant Galleria Subalpina and Galleria San Federico – where a police motorcyclist skids on a wet floor – are all close. So, too, are the steps of the Gran Madre di Dio church where the cars interrupted a wedding, and the weir where they crossed the Po.

An impressive commercial centre

For the site of the movie’s heart-stopping rooftop jump, ride the Metro south to Lingotto. What was once FIAT’s architecturally stunning ‘vertical’ factory is now an impressive commercial centre. Today, the rooftop test track houses the Pinacoteca Agnelli’s art galleries, café, museum and outdoor installations. From the Pista 500 roof garden, you can’t miss nearby Palavela arena’s sail-shaped roof where the Minis again outwitted their pursuers.

No doors were damaged

One location – for the spectacular sewer chase – was actually near Coventry! Another, in a pedestrian subway, disappeared with redevelopment of Turin’s Porta Nueva station. But plenty remain to be visited alongside the city’s other attractions – including, fittingly, a world-class car museum.

Soon, even Mrs H was humming ‘On Days Like These’ as we walked between Art Nouveau Casa Fenoglio-Lafleur, the Museo della Sindone, Caffé Al Bicerin 1763, for Turin’s delicious chocolate coffee, the lovely Selezione Naturale restaurant and Artur Bordalo’s brown bear eco-sculpture.

Visiting Turin was a great idea – even though we never saw three suitably coloured Minis together. And no doors were blown off, or otherwise dam-aged, during our stay. Promise!



Al Hidden is a seasoned traveller and retired writer, delivering snapshots of the world to Gloucestershire 400 words at a time.