Mercato di Porta Palazzo
Europe's largest open-air market
Europe's largest open-air market on Piazza della Repubblica - fruit, cheese, fish, spices and Turin's multicultural everyday life at hundreds of stalls.
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Europe's largest open-air market
On the sprawling Piazza della Repubblica, just north of the city centre, sits the Mercato di Porta Palazzo – by common reckoning the largest open-air market in Europe. The square covers more than 50,000 square metres of open and covered areas, lined with hundreds of stalls. The market dates back to 1835, and its oldest surviving halls are 19th-century. Fruit and vegetables dominate, but the range goes far beyond that.
What to expect
Porta Palazzo isn't a curated tourist market but the city's living, working market. You'll find just about everything here:
- Fruit and vegetables, plus Piedmontese regional produce
- Meat and salumi, fish, cheese
- Spices and ingredients from around the world
- Bread and pastries, flowers
- Clothing and accessories
- Household goods and bric-a-brac
The market is spread across several structures: the fish and food halls dating from 1836, the Tettoia dell'Orologio ("clock canopy") from 1916, and the building designed by Massimiliano Fuksas, reopened in 2011, that houses the clothing market. Fresh produce is sold indoors, while the outdoor stalls run row after row.
Turin's multicultural face
Porta Palazzo is arguably the most diverse corner of the city: Piedmontese tradition mixes here with communities from North Africa, the Middle East, China and Eastern Europe into a loud, colourful market scene. If you want a taste of Turin's authentic everyday life – away from the baroque grandeur around Piazza Castello – this is the place. As at any busy market, keep an eye on your belongings.
Around the market
Right next door, the famous Balon flea and antiques market draws crowds on Saturdays, and once a month it grows into the bigger Gran Balon. To the south lies the Quadrilatero Romano, the city's oldest quarter, with narrow lanes, trattorias and aperitivo bars – a good way to follow up a market visit with lunch or an aperitivo.
Visiting and practicalities
The market sits on Piazza della Repubblica (10152 Torino). It's open Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 14:00 and Saturday from 7:00 to 19:00; it's closed on Sundays. Selection is best in the morning, and Saturday is the busiest day. Entry is free, and you should allow one to two hours for a walk-through.
Tram 4 stops right at Porta Palazzo Nord, with a connection from Porta Nuova station; the area is also served by metro line M1 and numerous bus and tram routes. For general advice on getting around, see the Getting There guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Mercato di Porta Palazzo open?+
Is there an entrance fee for the market?+
How do you get to the Mercato di Porta Palazzo?+
Nearby
Santuario della Consolata
The Santuario della Consolata is Turin's foremost shrine – a Baroque masterpiece by Guarini and Juvarra built around the icon of the city's patron saint.
Turin Cathedral
Turin Cathedral, the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista, is the city's only Renaissance church and home of the Holy Shroud. Free admission.
Palazzo Reale
The Savoy royal palace and heart of the Musei Reali – state rooms, the Royal Armoury, Galleria Sabauda, library and Guarini's Shroud Chapel.
San Lorenzo
The Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo was the Savoy court church – Guarino Guarini's baroque masterpiece with a star-shaped ribbed dome of eight crossing arches.
Piazza Castello
Turin's monumental main square, home to Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Madama, Teatro Regio and San Lorenzo. Free to visit and the ideal starting point.
Palazzo Madama
From a Roman gate through a medieval castle to Juvarra's Baroque facade – Palazzo Madama on Piazza Castello houses Turin's museum of ancient art.