The Susa Valley (; ; ; ; ) is a valley in the

Metropolitan City of Turin The Metropolitan City of Turin (; Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ''sità metropolitan-a 'd Turin'') is a Metropolitan cities of Italy, metropolitan city in the Piedmont region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Turin. It replaced the prov ...

Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

region of

northern Italy Northern Italy (, , ) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. The Italian National Institute of Statistics defines the region as encompassing the four Northwest Italy, northwestern Regions of Italy, regions of Piedmo ...

, located between the Graian Alps in the north and the Cottian Alps in the south. It is one of the longest valleys of the Italian Alps. It extends over in an east-west direction from the French border to the outskirts of

Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...

. The valley takes its name from the city of Susa which lies in the valley. The Dora Riparia river, a tributary of the Po, flows through the valley. A motorway runs through the valley from Turin to

Chambéry Chambéry (, , ; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Chambèri'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Savoie Departments of France, department in the southeastern ...

in France through the Fréjus tunnel or by crossing the Col du Mont Cenis (2083m), and to

Briançon Briançon (, ) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Hautes-Alpes Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. It is the highest city in France at an a ...

, 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 Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...

formed an alliance with the

Segusini The Segusini (Gaulish: *''Segusinoi'', 'those of Segusio') were a Gauls, Gallic tribe dwelling around present-day Susa, Piedmont, Susa, in the Alpes Cottiae, during the La Tène culture, Iron Age. Name They are mentioned as ''Segosianō̃n'' (Σε ...

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 Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. It was one of the most used Alpine passes from the Middle Ages to the Nineteenth Century. Several

abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christians, Christian monks and nun ...

s 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 Casaforte Chianocco da sud-est

Turin–Lyon high-speed railway

Protesters have fought a 10-year battle to prevent a rail tunnel being built through the valley.

References

{{Authority control Valleys of Piedmont Valleys of the Alps Metropolitan City of Turin Geographical, historical and cultural regions of Piedmont