Turin, Italy
Basilica of Superga
A Baroque basilica perched on a hilltop above Turin, built by Filippo Juvarra as a royal vow fulfilled after the 1706 siege, with sweeping views of the Alps.
In 1706, the Duke of Savoy stood on this hilltop during the siege of Turin and swore to the Virgin Mary that if the city was saved, he would build a church here. The French-Spanish army was driven off, and Filippo Juvarra got the commission. What he built is a Baroque masterwork on top of a six-hundred-meter hill — a domed church with a Classical portico flanked by twin bell towers, visible from all over Turin and from much of the surrounding plain. The interior is circular under the dome, with six chapels radiating outward and a high altar by Juvarra himself. The dome's drum has large windows that flood the space with light, making the white and gilt interior feel airy rather than heavy. The Royal Crypt below holds the tombs of the House of Savoy — kings, queens, and princes of the dynasty that eventually unified Italy. The basilica also carries a darker memory: in 1949, an airplane carrying the entire Torino football team crashed into the retaining wall of the hill in fog, killing everyone on board. A memorial plaque on the rear wall marks the spot. The terrace gives you the Alps in a wide arc, Monte Rosa to Monviso, with Turin's grid of streets far below.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Turin
Style: Baroque
What to See
The approach matters. Whether you drive up the winding road or take the rack tramway, the basilica reveals itself gradually above the trees. The portico is modeled on the Pantheon in Rome and frames the entrance with Corinthian columns. Inside, the circular nave under the dome is surprisingly intimate for a royal church. The chapels hold paintings and altarpieces from the early eighteenth century. The Royal Crypt downstairs is dim and solemn, with elaborately carved sarcophagi. Walk around the outside to find the memorial plaque for the Torino football team — it is on the retaining wall behind the apse. The terrace view is the reward for the climb: on a clear day, the entire Alpine chain fills the horizon.
Pilgrim Notes
Superga is about ten kilometers east of central Turin, on a hilltop reachable by car or by the Sassi-Superga rack tramway, which runs from the eastern bank of the Po. The tramway is scenic and takes about eighteen minutes. The basilica is open daily. The Royal Crypt has a separate admission fee and guided tour. The basilica is free. Mass is celebrated on Sundays and holy days. The hilltop is exposed and can be windy and cold even when Turin is mild. On May 4 each year, the anniversary of the air disaster, Torino football supporters gather for a memorial — it is a moving event even for those who are not fans.