The best fashion and gift stores Piedmont

To the west of the city, in the Cenisia district, Piazza Benefica - originally Piazza Martini - takes its name from the fact that, in the past, clothes were distributed here for the poor. Today, however, it's a very different story, as this beautiful market is a real hit with fashion victims, who always hope to find bags, perfumes and all kinds of designer and vintage clothes at very good prices. Bargains all round!

Very popular with Turin women, who make a point of visiting at least once a week, the Mercato della Crocetta focuses mainly on clothing merchandise, with the exception of a few vintage pieces of furniture and jewelry. If you look hard enough, you'll be able to pick up a Louis Vuitton bag or Ray-Ban glasses for slightly less than you'd pay in a store. It's nice to take a break between purchases and drink a good cappuccino in a friendly atmosphere. This market has been around for over a century.

Mesure for glasses? It exists! In the brand new boutique of Via Mazzini each model is unique, designed especially on your face and perfectly adapts to your preferences of shapes and colours. There are yellow, blues, in shape of butterfly or tape, printed in panther or zebra… Finish the torment to wear monotonous glasses!

Borsalino hats are now distributed all over the world, but the historic headquarters of the brand's first store is located in the elegant shopping street of Alessandria. This magnificent boutique has preserved its Art Deco frontage from the early ^20th century. The class and chic of the articles, for both men and women, are only further emphasized; it's a veritable showcase. The choice is truly impressive, and you're sure to find the piece that will make you irresistible. Luxury comes at a price, but the quality is incomparable.

A beautiful shop that offers the most beautiful local handicrafts, including puncetto, a lace composed of a series of knots made of cotton thread, made with a single needle to form a geometric pattern, to create placemats, handkerchiefs, curtains and decorations for liturgical vestments. The oldest text referring to this feminine craft dates back to the 17th century. You will also find the scapin, the traditional Valsesia slipper, and carved wooden objects and soapstone tools.

If the name of this bookshop intrigues you, you should know that bardotto is the Italian name for the bardot, the result of a cross between a horse and a donkey. A hybrid, in other words. And that's what this place was all about, mixing café and bookshop for years. Since then, covid has come and gone, and the literary aperitifs have slowed down, but the bookshop continues valiantly to offer book signings, books on architecture, design, quality illustrated works for children, books on fashion, gardening... all selected with care and meaning.

All the French bookstores have gradually closed their doors in Turin, but fortunately here is Au quartier latin, a superb Franco-Italian bookstore that also has some books in Spanish. It specializes in 19th and 20th century literature and poetry, as well as books on history, travel, mountains, cooking... Warm wooden decor that makes you want to linger. The opening hours are limited but it is worth the detour.

Open every day and with long opening hours, this large Feltrinelli Group bookshop offers a truly comprehensive range of books, CDs and vinyls, films, stationery, children's games... You're bound to find what you're looking for here, on all three floors, with numerous special offers throughout the year. The friendly, competent staff will be happy to help you if you feel a little lost in the aisles.

The Galerie Umberto I, one of Turin's three ancient shopping arcades, built on a former hospital and inaugurated in 1890, links the city center with the Roman Quadrilateral. It is home to a number of attractive shops, including this gallery, which is packed with design objects, many of which revolve around the capital of Piedmont or the region. It's the ideal place to treat yourself to something original, trendy and, at the same time, a souvenir of your stay here. And of course, it's the perfect place to bring home quality gifts made in Italy.

In the center of Turin, along Via Carlo Alberto, well known for its designer decorations, the pretty boutique Bibi Gramaglia Selezione is very welcoming. In addition to its clothes, its jewelry has already made a name for itself on the arms, necks and wrists of Turin women... Sober, uncluttered lines for chic creations that will have no trouble seducing French-speaking ladies! A fashion line with sober, elegant cuts, decorative accessories and stationery items complete the range.