Superga, Italy: travel guide for the Basilica di Superga

Visit Superga

The Basilica di Superga is found just east of Turin, on the hill of the same name - it dominates the skyline of the hill and can be reached by car, or by tram and cable-car from Turin.

The Basilica is an impressive baroque building constructed in the early part of the 18th century - it was Vittorio Amadeos way of thanking the Virgin Mary for saving Turin from an invading French army.

Belltowers stand either side of the grand columned entrance, and the building has an attractive white and yellow decoration.

Within the Basilica di Superga is the mausoleum for the great and the good from the House of Savoy dating from the 18th and 19th century, and also a tribute to the victims of the aircrash in 1949 which killed the Turin football team; among others.

The interior of the Basilica di Superga is beautifully decorated. The splendid tombs are as fine as you would expect for Kings and Princes with the lavish interior featuring great areas of decorative marble surfaces, ornate furnishings and statuary.

The stately apartments are slightly less lavish and have rather a lot of larger than life paintings of the great and the good but still provide an interesting insight into early 19th century life for the Italian nobles. There is also a meticulously maintained 'cloisters' area around a pretty garden area, and the chance to see the decorated interior of the dome on Superga cathedral.

There are exceptional views back over the city of Turin from the front of the Superga basilica, which is in a raised position on a hill, and these alone would justify the visit.

Note: there is also a memorial at Superga in memory of an aircrash that took place here on the 4 May 1949 - the crash shook the italian nation, because almost all the members of the Turin football team of the time were killed in the crash.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Piedmont guide.