Fast Facts

Bookstores-- Libreria Internazionale Luxemburg, Via C. Battisti 7 (tel. 011-561-3896), has a large selection of British books and a helpful English-speaking staff; it is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 7:30pm and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and 3 to 7pm. Another good bet for books in English is the chain Libreria Feltrinelli, Piazza Castello 19 (tel. 011-541-627; www.feltrinelli.it). Turin has many stores specializing in rare books and old prints, and many of these shops sell their wares from the secondhand-book stalls along the Via Po, which runs between Piazza Castello and the river.

Consulates-- British subjects will find their consulate at Via Saluzzo 60 (tel. 011-650-9202), open Monday through Friday from 9:15am to 12:15pm and 2:30 to 4:30pm. Americans will find their nearest consulate in Milan at Via Principe Amadeo 2/10 (tel. 02-290-351); it is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to noon.

Crime-- Turin is a relatively safe city, but use the same precautions you would exercise in any large city. Specifically, avoid the riverside streets along the Po at night, when they tend to be deserted. In an emergency, call tel. 113; this is a free call. The central police station is near Stazione di Porta Susa at Corso Vinzaglio 10 (tel. 011-558-81).

Drugstores-- A convenient late-night pharmacy is Farmacia Boniscontro, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 66 (tel. 011-541-271); it is open most of the day and night, closing only between 12:30 and 3pm.

Emergencies-- The general emergency number is tel. 113; for an ambulance, dial tel. 118. Both are free calls.

Internet-- For Internet access, the Internet Train (tel. 011-543-000; www.internettrain.it), just down the street from the central Piazza Castello at Via Carlo Alberto 18, is open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 10pm, Saturday from 9:30am to 8pm, and Sunday from 3 to 7pm.

Laundry-- Lavasciuga, a Laundromat/Internet point with seven locations across the city (tel. 335-750-7583; www.lavasciuga.torino.it), charges 7€ ($8.75) for a wash-and-dry of a small load. They're open daily from 8am to 10pm. The nearest location to the train station is Via S. Anselmo 9.

Lost Property-- To report lost property, contact the Ufficio Oggetti Smarriti at tel. 011-665-3315.

Luggage Storage-- Luggage storage is available at the Porta Nuova train station; 2.50€ ($3.10) per bag for each 12-hour period; the office is open daily from 4:30am to 2:30am.

Newspapers-- Your best bet for English-language newspapers is at the newsstands in Porta Nuova station.

Post Office-- Turin's main post office is just west of Piazza San Carlo at Via Alfieri 10 (tel. 011-546-800); it is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 7pm and Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm. The postal code for Turin is 10100.

Taxis-- You can find taxis at cab stands; especially convenient in the central city are the stands in front of the train stations and around Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello. Dial tel. 011-5737, 011-5730, or 011-3399 for a radio taxi.