Sacra di San Michele and Val di Susa: the magic between sky and stone

On a rocky spur, hidden in the Val di Susa, there is one of the most iconic places in Piedmont. Located a few kilometers from Turin, the Sacra di San Michele is a thousand-year-old abbey, and mystery revolves around it. It is much more than a monument: it is the representation of how man and nature managed to make a landscape more beautiful than it was.

It was founded in a strategic point between the 10th and 11th centuries, on Monte Pirchiriano, along the ancient Via Francigena. Even from kilometers away, its profile is super recognizable and was an inspiration for Umberto Eco, in the famous novel The Name of the Rose. The atmosphere is charged with mystery; medieval arches and steep stairs alternate to create a spectacular panorama.

It has been a crossroads between Italy and France for centuries, and around the Sacra opens the Val di Susa, one of the most famous alpine valleys in Italy. From there, you can admire the breathtaking views offered by the valley, including medieval villages, fortresses, and castles scattered throughout the territory. The Pilgrims' Path (Sentiero dei Pellegrini) starts directly from the Sacra and is one of the most famous and fascinating in all of Piedmont.

At the top, the reward is total, as you can observe Turin from afar, and even catch a glimpse of the Mole Antonelliana. Then there is a coincidence that links Ireland to Israel to Piedmont. The Sacra is in fact part of the so-called Sacred Line of Saint Michael, which is a perfect alignment of all the churches dedicated to the Archangel, starting from Ireland and crossing Israel until it reaches Val di Susa.

Visiting the Sacra di San Michele therefore means taking a journey through time, purifying the spirit within a natural place set among the most beautiful mountains in Italy.

cover photo credit comune di Avigliana