Piedmont
Turin - Torino: the Markets

Turin - Torino : the Markets

The Torinese demand for shopping “en plein air” is amply met by the number and variety of its markets: more than 60 open-air venues to browse, happen upon objects from the past, surrounded by color and atmosphere. Aficionados seek out Porta Palazzo, Europe’s biggest open-air market, or the Balôn in Borgo Dora: a mega Saturday flea and antiques market with an extra date on the second Sunday every month. Don’t miss them if you want to get to the heart of Turin.

Porta Palazzo Market Torino Turin Porta Palazzo Market - (Photo: City of Turin Archive)

Porta Palazzo Market

“I got it down at Porta Palazzo!” Every Torinese must have said that once in their lives, pleased as punch after a trip down to this market, Porta Palazzo the biggest market area in Europe.

Here – amongst the stalls set up in Piazza della Repubblica, a stone’s throw from the Duomo and the Porte Palatine – you really can find everything: footwear, clothes, house wares, toys, food from all over Italy and specialties from all over the world.

A crowd of faces, languages, dialects that are the living proof that new Turin is a melting pot of stories, traditions and cultures.

Balôn and Gran Balôn

Balon Market Torino Turin The Balôn market gets its name from the area at the back of Porta Palazzo. In the 1850s or thereabouts, the place was the haunt of Turin junk dealers; now it’s just the place to discover shops selling all sorts of objects and products. Saturday is when this market turns into the heartbeat of the area, linked to popular tradition.

The Gran Balôn is held on the second Sunday each month: anything from toys to antique furniture, lace, collectors items, a variety of offers that make this market a magnet for shoppers from all over Italy.

Big Markets and Little Markets

Apart from Porta Palazzo and Balôn, Turin hosts an infinite number of fairs, all sizes of markets, all year round.

Oasi Market -
(Federazione Provinciale Coldiretti di Torino Archive)

“Oasi dei prodotti tipici della campagna Piedmontse”

“Oasis of traditional Piedmontese country fare”
First Sunday each month (excluding January, July, August), Piazza Palazzo di Città
Third Sunday each month (excluding July, August December), Piazza Madama Cristina
Information: Federazione Provinciale Coltivatori Diretti di Torino

“Oltremercato: prodotti biologici, naturali e ecocompatibili”

“Oltremercato: organic, natural and ecocompatible products”
Quarto Saturday each month (excluding July, August), Piazza Palazzo di Città
Information: Associazione Amici dell’A.S.C.I. Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta
Tel. 0124.617093

“Noibio: prodotti biologici”

“Noibio: organic products”
First Sunday each month (excluding August and December), Piazza Madama Cristina
Information: Federazione Regionale Coltivatori Diretti
Piazza Vittorio Veneto 12 – Borgaro Torinese
Tel. 011.4501250

“Extravaganza: vintage e modernariato”

“Extravaganza: vintage and modern”
Second Saturday each month (excluding July and August), Piazza Carlo Alberto
Information: Associazione Effetto Vintage
Tel. 335.6696605

“Ogni frutto ha la sua stagione”

“To every fruit there is a season”
Third Sunday each month (excluding January, July, August), Piazza Carlo Alberto
Information: Confederazione italiana agricoltori del Piedmont

“Antiquariato minore”

”Minor Antiques”
Fourth Saturday, fourth Sunday in March, June, September, November, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Via Po
Information: Piccola Società Cooperativa Arkana Medioevalis
Tel. 333.9070402

“Mostra mercato delle lavorazioni artistiche and artigianali”

“Arts and crafts fair”
First Sunday each month (excluding July and August), Via Cesare Battisti
Information: Associazione Itinerart

Ogni frutto
(Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori del Piedmont)