Marco Bonfante

Turin

Spotter since 2015

About me

About me
As an economist with a humanistic background, proficiency in data and figures has come together with a passion for languages and writing. After grammar school I spent my life outside Italy out of choice, 3 years in Hamburg, one in Denmark, one in Moscow and the rest in Brussels, my curiosity for travel matching my professional destinations.

I am currently working on EU environmental projects related to rivers and lakes, drafting them as well as managing policy monitoring on topics such as environment and sustainable tourism. Beside this, in my free time I really enjoy catching up with the endless pile of to-be-read books stored in my flat, playing guitar and practising sport, including windsurfing, rowing and skiing.

Why Turin?
Paradoxically I started loving my hometown, Turin, while living abroad from my 19th till my 30th birthday. This voluntary distance made me appreciate quite a few of Turin’s traits which were underrated when I lived there: its humble and noble beauty, its rich cultural life, its human size. Furthermore, since the industrial crisis of Fiat, Turin has had to re-discover its bourgeois past made of elegant cafés, tasty food, wine tradition and pedestrian zones. The unflattering definition of “grey Manchester of Italy” is long outdated and I believe my hometown deserves more recognition internationally.

Beside its beauty and wide leisure offer, Turin is at a stone’s throw from the skiing slopes of the Alps, 40km from the Langhe vineyards and 1h from the seaside. Can you really ask for more?

My spots (19)

Bar Pietro

A genuine piola in the heart of Turin

Glorious "Bar Pietro" Turin, est. in the '60s, is where you'll find different facets of this still ungentrified district and epic characters of all sorts!

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Bars
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Snacks

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

CINEfolies

The movie posters Eldorado

"CINEfolies" in Turin is a tiny shop filled with posters, books and post cards related to film. Turin is, after all, the birthplace of Italian cinema!

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Art & culture
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Shopping

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

Bella Sicilia

A taste of Sicily in Savoy

"Bella Sicilia" is a Sicilian bakery and pastry shop in Turin with loads of tradition. I usually go there to indulge, be gluttonous and for the nice owners

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Bars
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Coffee & tea
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Snacks

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

Balon

A flea market with style

"Balon" is Turin's biggest open air market, on Repubblica square. What gives it its name is the hot air balloon that rises 150 meters high every day!

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Art & culture
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Shopping
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Snacks

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

Café 21 Absinthe

A cocktail with the green fairy

"Café 21 Absinthe" in Turin is great for several reasons: its mission is to create awesome absinthe cocktails and it plays '80s synth-pop & new wave music!

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Bars

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

Pepe

A break with flair

"Pepe" in Turin is a bar/restaurant that makes the best its green space and benches. For me, the only problem with this place is leaving the table...

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Coffee & tea
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Restaurants

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

Latteria Testa

Her Majesty the Chantilly Cream

"Latteria Testa" is a shop in Turin that specialises in dairy products. If I have to give you one tip, it's this: don't miss the chantilly cream...

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Bars
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Coffee & tea
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Snacks

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

Les Arcades or 'Tamango'

The magic of the unknown

"Les Arcades or 'Tamango'" bar Turin is famous for its strong drink whose recipe has been kept secret for years. I'm warning you: Tamango is VERY strong!

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Bars

By

Marco

Bonfante

Feb 9, 2025

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