Even if ancient ruins aren't your cup of tea, a trip to an archaeological site is worth the detour. The journey will take you through the quaint countryside, threading through small towns and villages that might otherwise escape your notice. Just a few kilometres from the holiday resort of Altinkum, in Yenihisar, you'll find Didyma — home to a grand temple dedicated to Apollo. Didyma was more than a religious site; its oracle rivalled the fame of Delphi's. While the original temple was destroyed by the Persians around 400 BC, the existing ruins hail from the Roman times. The remnants of 120 columns stand as testament to the temple's once monumental size.

The Palatine Gates date back to ancient Roman times, when they provided access for travellers coming from the north. Today, the gates are part of the archaeological park located in the city centre, together with other ancient ruins, such as the remains of a Roman theatre.

Pinacoteca Agnelli is an art gallery that displays art from a vast private collection. You'll find Renoir's Blonde Bather and Manet's La Négresse, as well as works by Matisse, Canaletto, Tiepolo, Canova, Picasso and Modigliani. The futuristic "crystal spaceship" pavilion is an attraction in itself. The Pinacoteca is perched on top of the Lingotto complex — the headquarters of the Italian auto giant Fiat, founded by Giovanni Agnelli. It was built as a car factory in the 1920s, and was the largest and most modern plant of its kind in Europe. A winding brutalist ramp took cars to the top of the building, where they could drive the 500 m long test track. The ramp and the test track are still in top-notch condition, but the building itself now serves a different function. While its exterior remained largely unaltered, the interior was revived to house an exhibition centre, a conference centre and auditorium, two hotels, offices and shops. The iconic ‘Bubble’ — a transparent meeting room on the roof — was also added.