GETTNG THERE: The cheapest access to Turin is to fly into Milan's Malpensa airport. From there, you can rent a car, take an intercity bus from the airport or transfer into Milan and take an intercity train. British Airways, Continental, United and Delta offer round-trip connecting service from D.C. to Malpensa from $903, with restrictions.
Turin's airport is undergoing expansion prior to the Olympics, so expect more flights and easier access as the Games approach. United, Delta, Lufthansa and Air France fly from D.C. to Turin with one stop, starting at $1,697 round trip.
THE 2006 WINTER GAMES: The Games run Feb. 10-26. The opening and closing ceremonies and all ice sports, except for curling, will take place in Turin. The remaining venues are in mountain valleys to the north and west; trains connecting to free shuttle buses will move spectators between Turin's two stations and the mountain locations. Details: http://www.torino2006.org .
The official U.S. ticket seller for Olympics events is CoSport (877-457-4647, http://www.cosport.com ), which also offers three- to five-night packages, including lodging, some meals and event tickets. Prices range from $4,549 to $10,949 per person. Individual tickets to less popular events, like curling, start at $34, but you'll pay at least $118 to see figure skating -- and many of the cheap tickets are sold out. You can still snag a premium seat to the opening ceremonies, if you're willing to pay $1,260, which makes the $560 closing ceremonies seats look like a bargain.
WHERE TO STAY: Lodging for the Olympics is going to be scarce, according to tourism officials, particularly in the mountain areas. A Web site -- http://www.jumbograndieventi.it -- is available (but only in Italian so far) with info and an application that you fill out and fax to request a booking. At press time, the site wasn't offering rooms in Turin proper; rooms in the surrounding cities of Torino Province ranged from $114 per night double at a two-star in Scarmagno to $198 for a three-star in Cavanese.
If you book your hotel a la carte, be sure you can connect with public transportation to reach the event venues. CoSport also offers lodging at two hotels in Savigliano (45 minutes to one hour from Turin by train) in blocks of three to five nights for $608 to $630 per night double. To stay in the mountains, contact Montagnedoc ( http://www.montagnedoc.it ), the tourism association of the Olympic mountain region; a spokesman says it may have lodging available once all official needs have been met.
WHERE TO EAT: Two good options are Caffe Torino (204 Piazza San Carlo), where sandwiches, salads and pastas start at $10, and the similarly priced Caffe San Carlo (156 Piazza San Carlo).
Regional favorites are bollito, an assortment of boiled meats, including tongue; bagna cauda, a garlicky dip for vegetables; dishes showcasing the local truffles; and gianduia, the combination of chocolate and hazlenuts that appears in everything from drinks to candies to gelato. Some of Italy's most legendary red wines, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, also come from the region.
SEEING THE CITY: Turin Tourism (Piazza Solferino and other locations) has a number of guided tours, including a visit to Olympics venues; most are about $6.50. Book well in advance, as tours tend to sell out; you can book via the organization's Web site. It also offers TurismoBus Torino ($6.50 for 24 hours), a hop-on, hop-off bus that visits city tourist sites, and Torino Card (about $19 for 48 hours or $22 for 72 hours), which includes the bus pass and admission to more than 130 museums and attractions. Details: 011-39-011-8185011, http://www.turismotorino.org .
Other points of interest:
· The Shroud of Turin makes its rare appearances at the Capella della Santa Sindone, inside the Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista (Piazza San Giovanni, 011-39-011-436-15; free).
