Turin

You might not expect the birthplace of a car empire to look like a Rococo confection, but then Turin is no Johnny-come-lately industrial powerhouse: centuries before the first ever Fiat rolled off its production line, it was the seat of the mighty Savoy dynasty, and briefly - before passing the baton on to Rome in 1864 - capital of the newly-united Italy.

The symbol of Turin (Torino in Italian) is the pastiche Mole Antonelliana, Europe's tallest brick building. Intended as a synagogue but now home to the National Museum of Cinema, the elevator ride up its insides will hurtle you past movie posters before depositing you at the top of its dome for sweeping city views.

Nearby, Cattedrale di San Giovanni (final resting place of the 'Holy Shroud' that Christ was supposedly wrapped in) is a lone example of Renaissance architecture, nearly lost among the sea of Baroque buildings crowding the city centre.

Stop for an aperitif at one of the many cafés that pepper the central Via Roma and you'll get more than just a drink. With their ornate chandeliers, frescoes and period furniture, these convivial venues could almost belong to the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), a riot of gilded rooms and over-ornate paintings, or the Palazzo Madama.

The hills across the River Po hide another of the Savoys' flamboyant pads, Stupenigi Palace, a hunting lodge worthy of Posh and Becks. Higher up still sits the grand Baroque Basilica di Superga, affording breathtaking vistas of Turin and the surrounding Alps.

Of the city's museums, two are must-sees. The Egyptian Museum is the biggest of its kind outside Egypt, while the Automobile Museum is a tribute to the history of the motor car, funded chiefly by the Agnellis (the owners of Fiat) - also known as 'Italy's real royal family'.

Football fans, meanwhile, will probably aim to take in some action at Delle Alpi stadium, the home of Turin's other royal family - Juventus FC.