We had no idea this place existed. We were wandering through the Parco Valentino shortly after…read morearriving in Turin as the park was just to the end of the street we were staying at. And lo and behold, this medieval city which was built in the 19th century happened to tower over us. A bit weird but hey there it was. They have built this place to show how people in the Piemonte lived in medieval times and there are quite a few buildings including a castle and so on. Worth a walk through if you happen to be in the park. The park itself is quite big and this is at one end of the park away from the city centre of Turin. You can also get here by ferry and it will drop you off right in front of the place from the city.

It was...ok. I think Yelp's classification here is on the money. For context, I have a PhD in…read moretheatre and film, so I was really looking forward to getting to this museum while in town for a conference. It hit the mark on many fronts, but it was disappointing in other ways. First, the signage for which line is which is not intuitive. If you want to go up the observation lift, there's a different line than if you just want to go to the museum. Again, the signs of where to go next are vague, and the museum staff don't necessarily wear a uniform, so be prepared for virtually anyone to ask for your ticket. Second, there's a one-way path through the museum, and once you've gone through, they will not allow you back through. There's a beautiful area to sit and watch films during your visit, but it seems counterintuitive to go to that area quite early in your visit. There are no signs indicating you won't be allowed back to enjoy previous exhibits. That's a user design issue that really marred my impression. Now for the good things. The museum has an excellent virtual film area that I recommend. It's obviously a nascent area of film and digital media, but this was very worth the time. The early film exhibits are world class. That alone is worth the price of admission. I wish I could take every film class to this museum! It is simply outstanding. To summarize, some wonderful exhibits sandwiched in with meh exhibits (I could skip the two levels of film posters), and some hit or miss service. Still worth a visit, just be aware of its inconsistencies.

I'm a movie lover and this is one of the best museums I've ever been to. We literally spent the…read moreentire day here and still needed more time! This is a sprawling, multi-storied (5 levels comprising of 5,000 square feet), treasure trove of Italian movie history that I highly recommend to any film buff! For just €11 admission, this place is a bargain. The museum starts with an incredible exhibit on the archaeology of cinema. Here's where you'll find a jaw-dropping collection of magic lanterns, optical boxes, phenakistiscope disks, and original 18th century "Peepshow" boxes. There's a crazy amount of photographs and videos that cover all things movie history. The top level has a cool movie poster gallery. Do NOT miss this if you are a fan of film art! There are different areas and eras that are covered from indie cinema to experimental cinema to trash films to spaghetti westerns to giallo horror to neorealism to modern-day classics and more. Props from popular films, stop-motion demonstrations, and a fun atrium where you can lie down on sofas and watch film clips. Of course it's Italy-centric, but there are items from American films too. Your ticket also includes a special exhibit. When I visited, it was an audio exhibit on film music throughout the ages (and it was awesome)! We needed every second here, but we are huge film fans. There's a small cafeteria on the first floor for light snacks. The museum is so huge that even with large crowds, it never feels crowded. I noticed some of the employees were gruff and impatient with visitors, especially if you didn't speak fluent Italian. We also saw some employees yelling at the large groups of Italian schoolchildren. The biggest letdown here is the gift shop. It's okay, but is mostly filled with replica posters and boring knick-knacks that you can buy anywhere, even in the U.S. Note that the museum is CLOSED on Tuesdays!

Recently,I spent six delightful hours at the Palazzo Madama.The Palazzo Madama in Turin was the…read moresite of Italy's first Senate,after the Unification of Italy in the 19th Century.Since the Palazzo Madama's collection of artworks is very extensive and heterogenous,I have limited this review to its Gothic and Renaissance Period works of Art. I relished its delightful Floor Mosaic from the Cathedral of Acqui depicting hunters(produced between 1120 and 1130 AD by the Lombard Piedmontese Mosaicist).I also appreciated the Master of Oropa Madonna Workshop's"The Life of Mary Magdalene"(produced in the mid 14th Century,made of polychrome and gilded wood),and the Master of Courmayeur's"Antepedium With Christ,the Virgin,and Saints"(produced in 1200-1210AD and made of painted and gilded Spruce Wood) The following Medieval Period Paintings were sources of delectation;Barnaba Da Modena's"Virgin and Christ Child",Pietro D'Alba's"Polytych 1375"(this painting had a plethora of gold leaf),Giacomo Jacquerio's"Liberation of Saint Peter"(he was associated with Turin),and Jacopo di Cione's"Two Doctors of Church". I was especially fascinated with these Renaissance Period Paintings;Antoine de Longhy's"Death of the Virgin",Macrino D'Alba's"Self Portrait",Giovanni Martino Spanzotti's"Madonna and Child on Throne With 2 Angels",Antonio Vivarini's"Coronation of Virgin",Defendente Ferrari's"Crucifixion"Girolamo Giovenone's"Madonna and Christ Child With Saint Anne",Antonello Da Messina's"Trivulzio Portrait",and Ambrosius Benson's"Madonna and Child With 2 Angels". At the Palazzo Madama,the works of Art from the Gothic and Renaissance Periods are arranged in a very appealing manner.