UNUSUAL and hidden Turin for curious people
Description
What Makes My Tours Unique: 1) a deep knowledge of/focus on architecture and urban design; 2) a warm, witty, and convivial atmosphere—like exploring with a friend; 3) several intriguing anecdotes; 4) entry to private places away from mass tourism; 5) evening and night availability (when the city is at its best); 6) useful digital material sent to you after the tour; 7) dedicated W.App support from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM for any local tips or travel advice during your stay; 8) max 6/7 people, for a truly personalized experience. This tour focuses on the past and present beauty of Turin—its striking architecture, rich art history, local lore, and vibrant lifestyle. Scheduled during the lively late afternoon or under the atmospheric evening lights, it gives you the entire day free to visit the museums on your own. Afterward, you’ll step into the authentic side of Turin to see where locals head after work. We’ll wander through the ancient Roman and medieval quarter—my absolute favorite neighborhood, where I’ve chosen to live and which I know inside out. With its winding cobblestone streets, picturesque courtyards, and hidden gems, this is the oldest, most vibrant heart of the city where real people live. Together, we’ll discover a less commercial side of Turin that is incredibly tough to uncover on your own or on standard tours. We’ll focus on the subtle, fascinating details that most tourists miss—but you won't! - Is it true that Turinese people are cold and reserved? - Why does the architecture shift so dramatically in the span of just a few blocks? - Did you know the ritual of the "aperitivo" was actually born right here? - Have you ever stepped inside a traditional "infernotto"? Don’t expect to just walk and passively listen: get ready to chat, ask questions, and dive into Turin’s past, present, and future. We'll peel back the surface layers on a journey spanning from 25 BC to the present day. This experience is perfect for you if you want to understand the city through the eyes of a Turin-NATIVE Art and Cinema Historian (with a professional background in Cultural and Artistic Heritage Preservation). Born and raised in Turin, I love sharing the unique spots and intriguing stories you simply won't find in guidebooks. My style is witty, informal, and highly interactive. Forget rigid, uninspired guides carrying umbrellas, leading massive crowds, and reciting lists of memorized dates. I keep my groups small so I can give 100% of my attention to everyone, moving at your pace with a smile. Think of me as your local FRIEND, not a guide! I’ll even share a few anecdotes about my very (and at times, too!) traditional Turinese family. To see why this experience is the most popular and highly regarded in town, take a look at the link in my profile to read over 850 five-star reviews. By the end of our walk, you’ll see Turin through a completely different lens. It’s an investment in your trip that truly elevates your stay. In fact, even locals book this tour to rediscover their own city from a fresh perspective, or gift it to friends and family who always end up raving about it. In just 2 hours, you will experience a deeply authentic side of Turin without the stress of planning, navigating, or studying history beforehand. I’ve done all the homework for you; your only job is to relax, look around, and enjoy the stories. I am completely at your disposal for any questions before, during, and after the tour—whether you need recommendations regarding sightseeing, dining, transport, or local lifestyle tips. (Please note: my tours focus strictly on history, architecture, and culture, so we won't be covering magic legends or doing a food tasting). Because I'll be sharing insider tips to maximize the rest of your stay, I highly recommend joining the tour on your very first day in town to help you avoid tourist traps and plan your remaining itineraries like a pro. ∎∎∎ IMPORTANT: CONTACT ME BEFORE BOOKING. Because I run three different tours, offer multiple languages, and manage private schedules, not all online availability is up to date. Message me on W.App at: + 39 33 94 60 48 85 (NO direct phone calls or SMS, please). Available 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM. I'll reply within a maximum of 2.5 hours if I'm touring, otherwise within minutes: To get the best direct rate, please text me with: - number of people + ages - your preferred dates and times - languages spoken - exact tour name (I do three different tours) ✓✓✓ A fully PRIVATE version of this experience is available. Message me directly for details and custom pricing. ∎∎∎ BEST SCHEDULES: 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM, 9:30 PM (depending on the date and existing private bookings). ∎∎∎ A minimum of 4 people is required to confirm a shared group tour. P.S. An internet connection is required (especially W.App) to receive essential information for the success of the tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will visit the so called Roman Quadrilateral in our 2 hours.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We will walk for about 2,5 km/1.5 mi, or approximately 3500 steps.
- This tour may not be ideal for travelers who need to stop frequently, whether due to age (such as young children or seniors) or physical health conditions. Everyone is warmly welcome! However, if you feel you might struggle to keep up with a standard group pace—perhaps because you need frequent restroom breaks, prefer a gentler walking speed, or require regular rests—please reach out to me before booking. I'd love to chat and see how we can best accommodate you.
Reviews(212)
Walking with Melissoula was such a treat. Her knowledge, love and passion for Torino made me fall in love with this city so much more.
Great tour! Melissoula was amazing! I Strongly recommend! She took us to see things that could easily be missed making it interesting and fun!
Thanks for your time (and kindness) in writing this lovely review! A big hug!
Wonderful tour, not the usual 4 things about Turin that everyone knows. The guide very helpful and particularly attentive to everyone's attention.
Grazie mille! Apprezzo molto queste belle parole. A presto, spero!
We really enjoyed the tour with Melissoula. It is exactly what she promises: not the most expected places, small group, fun! She has a lot of knowledge of architecture and history. Next to the tour itself you get a tun of info on everything to do in Torino. So take the 2 hours to walk with her!
Thanks so much for your kind words. It has been a fun afternoon!
This tour is an absolute MUST for anyone visiting Turin! My guide (Melissoula) was incredibly knowledgable, welcoming and went above and beyond to make this experience unique! and unforgettable.
Thanks so much! I appreciate your words and time spent with me. Enjoy Italy!
I'm not typically a tour person as I'd rather experience things on my own. That said, this tour was simply spectacular! There is absolutely no way I would have learned what I learned from Melissoula on my own. She makes her guests feel at ease and finds a way to make connections with everyone in the group. The tour also gave me a sense of where I want to bring some family when they join me in a few days. I can't wait to take another tour with her and my family and, hopefully, meet up with her for an aperitivo! And, yes, the after-tour cookies are amazing.
Thanks Adele, your review is so kind and hope to see you soon in front of a Spritz or touring together to other areas of my city. Thanks again!
We really enjoyed our "unusual" tour of the "roman/historic" center of Torino with Melissoula. It was easy to arrange the details over WhatsApp, and she sent lots of useful supplementary information. Her directions to the meeting place were super easy to follow. Examples of things we talked about and saw: architecture (ancient Roman, medieval, Renaissance, baroque, modern), street art, history, culture, how Turin was affected by bombings during the war, interconnected networks of wine cellars, ice caves where snow/ice was brought down from the Alps and people could buy it to help preserve food. Torino is a hidden gem that tourists haven't discovered yet. Melissoula was very interesting and entertaining. The tour took an unexpected turn when a fast and hard rain/windstorm whipped up and she managed to keep us mostly out of the rain by going into some "underground" areas.
Thanks for your detailed review and the smiles you keep during the whole tour, much appreciated! A.big hug!
We recently returned from Italy and strongly recommend this tour. This is an experience that is tailored to your interests, rather than a one size fits all tour. Tour leader is knowledgeable about history, architecture, and art and how they influence the culture. You come away with understanding the uniqueness of Turino. She made really good recommendations for restaurants, shops, etc. even after the tour was over. Post-tour she answered every question very quickly. She is thoughtful and very well-prepared.
Thanks so much! It was a pleasure to have you. Hope to see you soon in Turin!
Melissoula was very knowledgeable and very nice! We really enjoyed the tour and learned a lot. It was nice seeing the non touristy Turin. We had a great time and definitely recommend!
Thanks so much! It was a pleasure to show Turin around and meet you! Hope to see you again in future! Ciao
We were lucky enough to be the only two on this tour so we started half an hour early. We didn't know much at all about the neighborhood we toured and not only learned a lot about the history but also found some really cool things that we never would have noticed on our own. I won't give anything away but this very much felt like a behind the scenes tour while we were still able to ask all sorts of questions and were also given recommendations for things to do. We went back the next day to spend more time in some of the areas we saw. The PDFs we received were really useful too and gave more information that would be useful for someone staying in the area for a few days. We highly recommend this tour and booked it for English speaking since it is also offered in Italian. Even if you have taken another walking tour in Turin this one will likely not overlap with anything since most of those are centered on the monuments which are nearby but not in this neighborhood. Our guide, Melissoula, was really knowledgeable, friendly, and interested in sharing her passion for where she lives and this turned out to be one of our favorite activities during our four days in the city. Highly recommended!
Thanks so much, I'm so glad to read your words! I hope to see you both soon in Turin!
