Torino, a city rich in history and culture, is not only famous for its monuments and museums, but also for its green oases that offer a peaceful refuge from the urban bustle. Enchanting parks and gardens weave themselves into the city’s fabric, giving residents and visitors alike a breath of fresh air and serenity.

Locate these parks on our Google Map of Torino’s Green Oases.

Torino is a city that cherishes its greenery. The city has even launched a plan for the redevelopment of its parks and gardens, with the aim of improving their usability and increasing their sustainability.

Parco del Valentino

Parco del Valentino is Torino’s most famous park. It is located on the left bank of the Po River, and is a green area of over 600 hectares.

The park was created in the 19th century by the Savoy family, and is home to the Valentino Castle (now Torino Polytechnic’s Department of Architecture and Design) and the iconic Borgo Medioevale (a reproduction of a 15th century medieval village, closed in 2024-25 for reconstruction). Valentino Park is an ideal place for walking, jogging, cycling, or simply relaxing. It contains numerous walking paths, cycling paths, picnic areas, and children’s playgrounds.

The park is also home to the Torino University Botanical Garden, which was founded in 1729 by Victor Amadeus II of the House of Savoy and is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Italy.

The garden covers an area of about 7 hectares and houses a collection of more than 10,000 plants from all over the world. The collections are organised according to the geographical origin, use, or morphology of the plants.

Among the most important collections in the garden are:

• The alpine plant collection, which houses over 1,000 species from the Alps and other mountains of the world.
• The medicinal plant collection, which houses over 500 species used in traditional medicine.
• The carnivorous plant collection, which houses over 100 species that feed on insects.

The Royal Gardens

The Royal Gardens are another important park in Torino, located in the city centre behind the Royal Palace and occupying an area of approximately 170 hectares.

The Gardens were created in the 16th century by the Savoys, and are home to numerous historical buildings, including the Royal Palace and the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. They are an ideal place to stroll while admiring the architecture and history of the city. The park is home to numerous paths, fountains, statues, and ornamental gardens.

The tree-lined paths and ornate fountains take visitors on a visual and sensory journey. The regal atmosphere is accentuated by the breathtaking view of the Royal Palace, creating a picturesque setting for a peaceful stroll.

Parco della Tesoriera

The Parco della Tesoriera is an authentic pearl of tranquility in the heart of the city. Characterised by an enchanting pond and a rich variety of plants and flowers, this park offers a unique experience.

It has a rich heritage of trees, shrubs, and flowers, with species typical of Italy, as well as species from abroad, such as the locust tree which is native to North America, and the red oak and plane tree which originate in the Far East. The benches scattered along the paths offer perfect places to relax and enjoy the surrounding beauty.

Inside the park, the 18th-century villa (Villa Tesoriera or Villa Sartirana – now home to the Villa of Composers Music Library) stands out. It is surrounded by a large green lawn in the French style, at the centre of which is a large fountain with central spouts. 

Parco della Pellerina

Located in the northern part of Torino, Parco della Pellerina is the largest park in the city, covering 837 hectares. The park was created in the 20th century and takes its name from the Pellerina farmstead, dating back to the 17th century, which still exists in its vicinity.

The park is crossed along its entire length by the Dora Riparia: originally it had a much more winding course, but at the beginning of the 20th century, work was carried out that led to its current state.

The vegetation in the park is varied, and includes tall trees, such as beeches, oaks, poplars, willows, and fruit trees, such as cherry, apple, and pear trees. Many types of animals live in the park, mostly aquatic species such as frogs, fish, and turtles. There are also many types of birds, including herons, swans, and ducks.

Parco Europa

Parco Europa covers an area of about 60 hectares, located in Cavoretto (about 6 km from Torino) and provides an excellent view over the entire city. The park was designed by architect Pietro Bertolotti and inaugurated in 1954. It expanded to its present size in 1961 for the centenary of the Unification of Italy. On that occasion, in an international celebratory spirit, it was named Europa.

With the exception of the northern part, which remained in a semi-natural state, the rest of the park was built on stone steps crossed by paths and alleys, with various niches of vegetation with predominantly Mediterranean features and a characteristic olive grove.

The park contains botanical species of great interest. In addition to pines, there are plane trees, cypresses, a collection of magnolias, monumental hawthorns, laurel hedges, and an impressive iris garden.

Other parks and gardens in Torino

In addition to these three main parks, Torino is home to numerous other parks and gardens, each with its own characteristics.

Some of the most beautiful parks in Torino include:

• Parco Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto (Piazza d’Armi), a 15-hectare park located in the southern part of the city. This park is home to one of Torino’s two football stadiums as well as the Palazzetto degli eventi di Torino (known locally as Inalpi Arena, Pala Alpitour, and Palasport Olimpico). Built for the 2006 Winter Olympics, the Inalpi Arena has also hosted the 2023 ATP Tennis Championship and 2022 EuroVision Contest;
• Parco Colonnetti, a park of almost 39 hectares located in the city centre;
• Parco del Meisino, a 45-hectare park located in the southern part of the city;
• Parco Pubblico di Villa Genero, a 39-hectare park located to the north with one of the most scenic views in the the city;
• Parco Ruffini, a park of almost 13 hectares also known as ‘Valentino nuovo’ and home to the city’s Palazzetto dello Sport.

Buon viaggio!