Piazza San Carlo is Turin’s elegant Baroque drawing room: a broad, symmetrical square lined with arcades and historic cafés. Just south of Piazza Castello, it is one of the most appealing places to pause in the historic centre, whether for a coffee or a slow look at the façades around it.
Laid out in the 17th century as Turin expanded under the Savoy dynasty, the square is usually credited to architect Carlo di Castellamonte. At its southern end stand the churches of San Carlo Borromeo and Santa Cristina, often described as twins despite their different façades. In the centre, the bronze equestrian statue of Duke Emanuele Filiberto, known locally as Caval ëd Brons, depicts him sheathing his sword after the victory at Saint-Quentin.
The cafés beneath the porticoes are part of the square’s cultural history, having hosted writers, thinkers and political figures over the centuries. Caffè San Carlo and Caffè Torino are among the best-known addresses; try a bicerin, Turin’s layered drink of coffee, chocolate and cream. Outside Caffè Torino, look for the bull set into the pavement: local tradition says stepping on it brings good luck.
Come early for quieter photographs, or around aperitivo time to see the square at its most sociable. Check café menus before taking a table, as prices can be higher under the arcades than on nearby streets. Piazza San Carlo is an easy walk from Porta Nuova station, Piazza Castello and the Museo Egizio, though events and seasonal displays can occasionally alter access to parts of the square.