As thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary for Turin's deliverance from the French siege of 1706, Vittorio Amedeo II commissioned Juvarra, the Sicilian architect who did his greatest work in Turin, to build this baroque basilica on a hill high above the city.

The exterior, with a beautiful neoclassic porch and lofty drum dome, is far more interesting than the gloomy interior, a vast circular chamber beneath the dome with six side chapels.

The church serves as a pantheon for the House of Savoy, whose tombs are scattered about, many in the so-called Crypt of Kings beneath the main chapel.

There's a fine view of the Alps from the terrace in front. The trip up to the basilica on a narrow railway through verdant parkland is a favorite Torinese outing.

Open Hours

Daily 9am-noon and 3-6pm (until 5pm Nov-Mar)

Prices

Free admission

Transportation

Reached by rack railway with a terminus at Stazione Sassi on Piazza Gustavo Modena (follow Corso Casale on east side of the River Po).

Tram: 15 from Via XX Settembre to Stazione Sassi

Location

About 6.5km (4 miles) northeast of the town center in Parco Naturale della Collina di Superga

Neighbourhood

Baldissero

URL: http://www.basilicadisuperga.com/

E-mail: bookshop@basilicadisuperga.com