WHAT WOULD YOU DO? TRIP TO TURIN

I plan to visit Turin with a friend some time soon. Our main reason for going there is to visit the Egyptian Museum. We propose to go by train and stay for three to four days. Can you recommend any reasonably priced places to stay? We will require two single rooms. Also, any recommended sightseeing, cafés or restaurants?

VALERIE ROBINSON

Dear Valerie

Turin is an excellent choice for a city break. It’s much less in the spotlight and much better value than nearby Milan, but it has an impressively rich architectural heritage and some fabulous museums and art collections, including the Egyptian Museum. Most are relics of its former life as the seat of the House of Savoy.

You don’t say what your budget for accommodation is, but in Turin hotels your money will go a long way. For example,

I booked a room at one of its best hotels, the historic Grand Hotel Sitea (grandhotelsitea.it) last November for £135 a night. But you can find excellent places to stay from about £60 a night; see our expert recommendations and reviews at telegraph.co.uk/ tt-turinhotels.

Apart from the Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio), which has one of the world’s greatest collections of ancient artefacts, you should definitely go to the Palazzo Madama (palazzo madamatorino.it), a remarkable fusion of an 18th-century neoclassical facade and medieval castle with great views from the tower. Nor should you miss the cathedral – though the famous Shroud is rarely on view – and the Palazzo Reale (museireali.beniculturali.it) with its excellent art collection and fine state rooms.

If you like chocolate, Gertosio (gertosiopasticceria.it) is the place for pralines; and Stratta (stratta1836.it) and Peyrano (peyrano.com) sell nearly 100 different types of chocolate.

A good café to try is Al Bicerin (bicerin.it). Tiny and woodpanelled, it dates from 1763.