We are passionate about showcasing the stunning architecture and design of the art nouveau movement, and we offer a range of private tours tailored to your interests and needs.
Our private tours are led by knowledgeable and experienced guides who will take you on a journey through Turin’s art nouveau history. We offer three private tours in Turin, each designed to suit different schedules and preferences.
Our first tour is a 4-hour walking tour, perfect for those who want to explore Turin’s art nouveau gems on foot. We’ll take you to some of the most iconic art nouveau buildings in the city and provide you with insight into the art nouveau movement and its impact on Turin’s architecture. This is our most popular private tour in Torino.
If you prefer a private tour with a driver, we offer two options: a 4-hour tour and an 8-hour tour. Both tours are designed to cater to small or very small groups, and we can provide a car, minivan or bus depending on the size of your group. Our private tours with a driver will take you to the most beautiful art nouveau buildings in Turin and its surroundings, giving you the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the art nouveau movement at your own pace.
Art Nouveau, also known as Liberty style in Italy, left a lasting impact on Turin’s stunning architecture and design. At our private liberty style tours, we pride ourselves on providing a bespoke experience for each of our clients. Whether you’re an art lover or simply curious about Turin’s art nouveau heritage, we’re confident that our private tours will exceed your expectations.
In addition to our regular private tours, we also offer customized private tours to suit your specific needs. If you have a different timing in mind, such as a 2-hour or 10-hour tour, or a special interest in visiting a particular place, please email us at contact@artnouveau.club and we will do our best to respond quickly and provide you with the best possible experience.
We want to share with you some comments from our clients / friends:
"Our guide was a real gem, both as guide and as driver! We loved being chauffeured around in style and comfort, and it was the perfect way to see Turin's stunning art nouveau buildings. We highly recommend Art Nouveau Tours!" - David Wilson, London, United Kingdom.
"The walking tour was so amazing! We saw all the best art nouveau things in Turin and the guide was really kind and nice. We learned a lot and it was a great experience" - Jane Smith, Auckland, New Zealand.
"The customized tour was a truly exceptional experience. The team at Art Nouveau Tours was extremely helpful and made all our requests happen seamlessly. It was a truly personalized and unique experience that we will treasure forever." - Michael Brown, New York City, United States.
"The private tour was one of the most memorable experiences of our Italian trip. The guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about the art nouveau movement, and we had the opportunity to discover some incredible buildings we would have never found on our own." - Sarah Johnson, Melbourne, Australia.
Book your private art nouveau tour in Turin and discover the beauty of this captivating movement with our knowledgeable and passionate guides. We can’t wait to share our love for art nouveau with you!”. Discover the Food Culture of Turin by reading THIS ARTICLE (CLICK HERE).
At the turn of the 20th century, a new artistic movement swept across Europe, leaving its mark on architecture, design, and the applied arts. It was known as Art Nouveau in France, Jugendstil in Germany, Secessionstil in Austria, Modernismo in Spain, and the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain. In Italy, it was called Stile Liberty, named after Arthur Lasenby Liberty’s famous London department store. This distinctive style, rejecting the rigid eclecticism of the 19th century, found fertile ground in Turin, particularly after the 1902 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts, which played a key role in popularizing Liberty in Italy.
Art Nouveau in Turin went beyond architecture—it became an all-encompassing artistic expression, adorning buildings with floral motifs, flowing lines, and elegant curves. It reflected the aspirations of a modernizing bourgeoisie that sought to merge functionality with artistic beauty, making the city a vibrant canvas of decorative elements, from sculpted facades to intricate ironwork.
Turin’s most celebrated Art Nouveau architect was Pietro Fenoglio, who, within just thirteen years, designed over 200 buildings, many of which still define the character of Corso Francia and its surrounding streets. His designs seamlessly combined ornamental elegance with cutting-edge construction techniques, taking advantage of new industrial materials like iron, glass, and concrete, which allowed for more daring and innovative structures.
One of the finest examples of Fenoglio’s work is La Fleur (at the corner of Via Principi d’Acaja and Corso Francia), a building he designed for himself. The structure features a distinctive floral-shaped canopy, stunning stained-glass windows, delicate iron railings with botanical motifs, and a striking corner tower with asymmetrical balconies. The exterior is painted in **soft pastel shades—green, pink, and blue—**characteristic of Liberty style.
Another outstanding example is Villino Raby (Corso Francia 8 bis), where Fenoglio blended refined decorative elements with a modernist structural approach. His use of litho-cement frames, along with the harmonious incorporation of iron and glass, demonstrated how Art Nouveau could fuse aesthetic appeal with contemporary engineering techniques.
Turin is home to numerous other Liberty-style buildings, each with its own unique character.
- Casa Tasca (Via Beaumont 3), designed by Giovan Battista Benazzo in 1903, is a spectacular display of bow windows, swirling wrought-iron details, and an explosion of organic decorations, creating the sensation of a living, breathing structure.
- The three Art Nouveau villas on Via Piffetti, designed by Giovanni Gribodo in 1908, are famous for their peacock-tail ironwork, floral motifs, and sphinx sculptures, adding an air of mystery and exoticism to their design.
- Palazzo Maffei (Corso Montevecchio 50), designed by Antonio Vandone di Cortemilia in 1904, as well as several buildings along Corso Galileo Ferraris and Corso Re Umberto, feature elaborate stained-glass windows, intricate wrought-iron balconies, and exquisite plant-inspired details.
- Villa Javelli (Via Petrarca 44), designed by Raimondo D’Aronco, showcases a masterful balance between ornamental beauty and architectural structure. D’Aronco was also responsible for designing the pavilions of the 1902 Turin International Exhibition, solidifying his role in spreading Art Nouveau in Italy.
The most famous example of Turin’s Art Nouveau remains Villa Scott (Corso Giovanni Lanza 57), another masterpiece by Pietro Fenoglio, built in 1902. Its undulating façade, playful use of loggias, turrets, and bay windows, and intricate floral and abstract decorations create a dreamlike atmosphere. The villa gained international fame when it was featured in Dario Argento’s iconic horror film Deep Red (Profondo Rosso), adding a cinematic mystique to its already captivating presence.
Art Nouveau in Turin wasn’t limited to private residences—it also flourished in public spaces, particularly in historic cafés that still preserve their original charm.
- Caffè Mulassano (Piazza Castello 9), designed by Antonio Vandone di Cortemilia, is a luxurious space featuring wood and leather coffered ceilings, mirrored walls, intricate boiseries, and a magnificent onyx counter with bronze decorations crafted by some of the finest artisans of the time.
- Right next door, Baratti & Milano (Piazza Castello 29) stands as a testament to the grandeur of Turin’s café culture. Its impressive marble-framed entrance with bronze bas-reliefs leads to an opulent interior adorned with inlaid marble floors, gilded stucco ceilings, and elaborately carved moldings.
- Galleria Subalpina, inspired by Parisian covered passages, still retains an eclectic yet refined ambiance, blending Art Nouveau elegance with the classic charm of a 19th-century shopping arcade.
Even the industrial sector embraced Art Nouveau in Turin. The first FIAT factory, located at Corso Dante 10 / Via Marochetti 1, was designed by Alfredo Premoli between 1904 and 1906. The factory’s façade integrates floral motifs into its iron and glass framework, an unusual but striking example of how Liberty style permeated all aspects of Turin’s urban landscape.
Art Nouveau transformed Turin into a city where architecture, design, and craftsmanship merged into a single artistic vision. From extravagant private residences to elegant cafés and even industrial buildings, Liberty style left an indelible mark on the city’s identity.
Today, wandering through Turin’s Art Nouveau streets is like stepping into a world where nature, fantasy, and modernity intertwine, offering visitors and locals alike a chance to appreciate an era that celebrated the beauty of innovation.
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