San Donato
San Donato district is located northwest of the city centre and with Borgo Campidoglio and Parella forms District 4 of Turin. Corso Francia bounds it, Corso Alessandro Tassoni and a section of the Dora Riparia River, Corso Potenza and the Sottopasso Carlo Donat-Cattin and Corso Principe Oddone. It is an ancient suburb that today encapsulates the two souls of the city, the pre- and post-industrial. The southern area is more commercial and fashionable, full of shops, activities and buildings, while the northern area, which used to be that of the factories and factory work, was converted into Spina 3, as early as the 1990s. This urban redevelopment project is part of a larger one involving the whole of Turin. The entire district, especially in recent years, has enjoyed transformation interventions that have, little by little, changed the organisation of the area and modified the social order. In fact, the modern blocks of flats and green spaces have attracted young families, and the whole area is perfectly connected to the rest of the city. Even Campidoglio and Parella, previously predominantly working-class neighbourhoods, have been redeveloped and are now considered residential and commercial areas.
Apartments in San Donato
What to see and do
Strolling in the San Donato district means admiring the elegant Art Nouveau buildings that line the streets. Sharing with Cit Turin is Pietro Fenoglio's Casa Lafleur building, located between Corso Francia and Via Principi d'Acaja, right on the border between the two neighbourhoods. But proceeding on foot, you will discover many other Art Nouveau buildings: Villino Raby in Corso Francia 8, Casa Florio in Via Cibrario 15, Palazzo Rigat in Via Beaumont 2, Palazzina Conte in Via Piffetti 10 and 12, Casa Baloire in Via Le Chiuse 39, Casetta Chalet in Via Vagnone 9, Casa Macciotta in Corso Francia 32 and the Palazzo della Vittoria in Corso Francia 23. The latter is also located right on the border with the Cit Turin district, so it can be said to belong to both.
Also in the San Donato district are the former Metzger brewery, which has now become a centre for contemporary culture, the former Pastiglie Leone factory, which is now a luxury apartment block, and the Fiorio tannery converted into the Piazza dei Mestieri. It is a place of education and aggregation for young people, of learning the world of work, of valuing oneself and one's time. It is interesting to continue the walk in the adjacent Campidoglio district where the low buildings with courtyards still evoke the original construction. The narrow and paved streets are home to craft shops, workshops, inns, and trattorias. The feeling is that of wandering through an ancient village while admiring the works of the MAU, Museum of Urban Art. It is a veritable open-air museum comprising more than 170 works created on the facades of buildings. Also worth seeing are Piazza Moncenisio and the Panchine d'Autore (Author's Benches), which are part of the museum's works and feature the colourful geometries of Mondrian, Haring's stylised little men or homages to Picasso, Mirò, Pollock and so on. In the Parella district, there is the Tesoriera Park with the Villa of the same name decorated with frescoes and where classical music concerts are held in summer. As well as Dora Park in San Donato where you can walk, run, read or enjoy time in the green.
Where to eat and drink
Although there is not the vast choice that can be found in the neighbourhoods of San Salvario and Vanchiglia, there are some excellent restaurants in San Donato or clubs and pubs for aperitifs. Let's start immediately with a couple of international cuisine proposals: Sovietniko, to savour the tastes of Russian gastronomy, and Mei Shi Mei Ke, a real Chinese restaurant that the West has not influenced. Or the Peruvian restaurant Mijuna Wasy, unique dishes and generous portions, or Revolucion Caliente in Borgo Campidoglio, and Yoshi Sushi for Japanese cuisine in a minimalist style. If you want to stick to Italian cuisine, with first and second courses: Casa Donato, with both meat and fish dishes, Dù Cesari, with Roman specialities in a place with straw chairs, Ristorante Il Martinet, where you can find true Piedmontese cuisine with rich flavours, Che bolle in pentola, a rustic Tuscan trattoria.
Moving towards the Parella district: Circolo Sardegna 'Caras', for eating Sardinian in Turin, Il tempo ritrovato, a trattoria offering Mediterranean and creative cuisine, Bocciofila Tesoriera - Come a casa, among other things good meat and ravioli in brodo with excellent value for money. Fancy a pizza? No problem because there is no shortage of pizzerias in the San Donato area and neighbouring districts: Pizzeria Nuovi Orizzonti, Pizzeria Lapislazzulo, Fa' Na' Pizza, Pizzeria Da Michi since 1971, Pizzeria Queendici, excellent pizza also for those with coeliac disease. Also, Stop Pizza, a historic focacceria where you absolutely must try the focaccia di Recco, you will feel like you are in Liguria and maybe if you close your eyes you can hear the sea. But before dinner, here's where to have an aperitif: Il Carlino Ubriaco, a name that is a certainty, excellent wines, and excellent appetisers, Zeroundici Cibrario, aperitif with a chopping board, L'aperivò, drinks, canapés and snacks. In the courtyard of the Piazza dei Mestieri you can find craft beers, or if you are looking for a pub, New Castle Pub is open until late. There is also space for breakfast at the Cibrario Torino bakery, for a snack with ice cream at Tosca's or a variety of sweet treats at the various cafeterias in the area: Caffetteria Art, Frumento e Caffè, Antica Caffetteria, Emporio Chico, Dolcelia, gluten-free sweet and savoury delights.
Where to go shopping
San Donato, Campidoglio and Parella services are for every need: banks, post offices, pharmacies, supermarkets, grocery stores and so on. Right in Via San Donato you can find a number of shops selling clothes, shoes, gifts, electronics and any other necessities. For example, Glamour Calzature, Global Shopping Centre, Navigare Multimarca, Bakana Moda, Poshmen, Shopping World, D'Are', even Govinda Torino where they sell Tibetan bells.
Markets in this area include: Barcellona Square Market, Monday to Friday from 8am to 1.30pm and Saturday from 8am to 7.30pm and Altromercato Torino Bottega San Donato, where you can find a little bit of everything. San Donato Frutta, focusing on fruit and vegetables. Mercatino Franchising Torino for clothing. There are also all the best-known supermarkets: Carrefour, Crai, Despar, iN's, Prestofresco and also other convenience stores and neighbourhood grocery stores. The liveliest shopping destination in the area is the Parco Dora Shopping Centre, the shopping centre in San Donato, where you can find a wide range of shops and services, gourmet restaurants, fast food chains and restaurants, as well as newsagents, bookshops, jewellers and much more. It has a large and convenient car park and a multiplex cinema.
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