Balon Gran Balon

You know those plans you simply cannot turn down? The ones you visit knowing that nothing is ever static and every trip brings a new discovery? We have just the thing: the Balon and the Gran Balon, two Turin markets dedicated to craft and vintage. Balon takes place on Saturdays from 7am to 6pm, while Gran Balon runs every second Sunday of the month from 8am to 6pm in Turin.

The premise is simple: finding the unfindable—that curious object, that piece of fashion you spotted in an old photograph of your grandmother and her friends, or that jacket or bag you assumed was out of production decades ago. With a little luck (and a knack for bargaining), you might just come across it at one of the market stalls.

Getting there is easy: both markets wind through the streets of Borgo Dora, Cottolengo, Lanino, Mameli and Salita del Maglio, just a short walk from Via Garibaldi.

Let us take them in order. If your week is packed and you usually spend Sundays escaping the city, Balon is the one for you. Spend a few hours of your Saturday browsing the area around Porta Palazzo. You do not have to buy, but you will almost certainly be won over by the sheer variety on offer: from fish and fruit to clothes, homeware, plants and curiosities, dropping by is well worth your time.

Gran Balon is another story altogether. The idea: a Sunday stroll through the streets, joined by fellow shoppers looking for something with a story to tell—something unique that catches your eye because nobody else has it. That extends far beyond clothes. You can genuinely find anything here: home and office furniture, chairs, paintings, bicycles, lamps of every shape and size, shoes, backpacks, jackets, toys! You read that right: you will find practically everything, not to mention the real highlights, such as impressive collections of vintage cameras with their fine leather cases or early Polaroids that fascinate visitors of all ages. Then there is the vast selection of books, catnip for readers who happily spend hours rummaging through boxes in search of elusive titles—and usually walk away with one, or even two!

That is the appeal of Gran Balon: its one-of-a-kind finds are what make it special. Our advice? Mark your calendar and explore this lively gathering of antiques, crafts and creativity—the atmosphere alone will win you over.