Val Di Susa
A motorway runs through the valley from Turin to Chambéry in France through the Fréjus tunnel or by crossing the Col du Mont Cenis (2083m), and to Briançon, also in France, over the Col de Montgenèvre.
Geography
Peaks that surround the valley include:
- Pointe de Ronce - 3,612 m
- Rocciamelone - 3,538 m
- Pierre Menue - 3,506 m
- Rognosa d'Etiache - 3,382 m
- Punta Sommeiller - 3,332 m
- Punta Ramiere - 3,303 m
- Mont Chaberton - 3,131 m
- Monte Orsiera - 2,890
- Punta Lunella - 2,272 m
- Monte Colombano - 1,658 m
- Monte Musinè - 1,150 m
History
During the Roman age, Augustus formed an alliance with the Segusini of Cottii Regnum to link Italy and France by building a road through the Valley and over the Col de Montgenèvre (Passo del Monginevro), now 2 km away from the Italian border.
During the Middle Ages, the road was called Via Francigena, and pilgrims arriving from France passed through Mont Cenis and the Susa Valley on their way to Rome. It was one of the most used Alpine passes from the Middle Ages to the Nineteenth Century. Several abbeys were built to accommodate pilgrims, such as Novalesa Abbey founded in 726AD on the foot of a mountain and the monumental Sacra di San Michele abbey.
Main sights
- Sacra di San Michele (Saint Michael's Abbey), established in the 11th century on the top of Pirchiriano Mountain, at the valley's entrance from Turin.
- Novalesa Abbey, established by Patrice Abbo of Provence in 726AD en route to the Mont Cenis Pass.
- Susa Cathedral, ancient San Giusto Abbey, in Susa, established by Olderico Manfredi in 1029.
- Susa's Arch of Augustus, established in 8BC.
- Montebenedetto Charterhouse (Villar Focchiardo), established in 1197.
- Castle of Bruzolo, built in 1227.
- Casaforte di Chianocco
- Fort of Exilles
Turin–Lyon high-speed railway
Protesters have fought a 10-year battle to prevent a 57 kilometres (35 mi) rail tunnel being built through the valley.
References
- ^ Fraser, Christian (15 February 2013). "Italy's 10-metre Alpine mega-tunnel". BBC News. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
Media related to Val di Susa at Wikimedia Commons