Basilica di Superga

The Basilica di Superga crowns a green hill 670 metres above Turin and is one of Filippo Juvarra's finest works, built between 1717 and 1731 after Duke Vittorio Amedeo II vowed to raise a church if the city was delivered from a French and Spanish siege in 1706. Its high dome, deep classical portico and twin bell towers make a striking silhouette visible from across the Piedmont capital. Inside, the luminous circular nave leads to side chapels, while beneath the church the Crypt of Kings holds the elaborate tombs of the House of Savoy, accessible on a guided visit along with the royal apartments and the dome. Climbing the dome rewards the effort with one of the widest panoramas in the region, taking in the whole of Turin spread along the Po and, on clear days, the full arc of the Alps including Monviso. The hillside behind the basilica is also a place of pilgrimage of a different kind: a memorial marks the spot where, in 1949, an aircraft carrying the all-conquering Grande Torino football team crashed into the rear wall, killing the entire squad, and fans still leave scarves and flowers there. A visit typically lasts an hour and a half to two hours depending on whether the crypt and dome are included. Mornings on clear days give the sharpest Alpine views and the best light for photography from the terrace. The site is busiest on summer weekends, when the historic Sassi-Superga rack railway that climbs from the city is itself a popular attraction; weekdays are quieter. Visitors can also reach the top by bus 79 or by car up the winding hill road.