Sacra di San Michele
All you need to know about the impressive abbey and symbol of Piedmont, high above the Susa Valley
The Sacra di San Michele monastery towers high above the Susa Valley. Impressive not only from the inside, the abbey also offers a fantastic view as far as Turin.
Whenever I have guests in Piedmont, a visit to this Piedmontese landmark is an absolute must on the agenda. As a result, I have often been in and around the stunning monastery.
Read on to find all the information and hiking tips about the historic building of the Sacra di San Michele.
All you need to know about Sacra di San Michele abbey
High above the entrance to the Susa Valley, between the villages of Sant’Ambrogio di Torino and Chiusa di San Michele, the impressive Sacra di San Michele monastery rises on the summit of Mount Pirchiriano.
Did you know: The Abbey is not only a symbolic monument of the Piedmont region and a significant example of religious architecture in the entire Alpine area, but one of the most important monuments in Italy.
A little bit of history and the Spiritual Significance
The massive complex was built at 962 m above sea level between 983 and 987 and comprises the Abbey, the New Monastery, the main church / basilica and the Bell Alda tower. At the end of the 11th century, the site was extended to include several guest rooms for pilgrims.
The abbey is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, a Lombard patron saint. The cult of the archangel, which originated in the Orient, spread and developed in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Italy, where it went hand in hand with the spread of Christianity.
From the foundation of the monastery until the first half of the 13th century, the abbey flourished under the leadership of the Benedictine abbots. Up to 1000 monks lived in the impressive monastery complex at the time.
The Alpine crossing was always the biggest and most dangerous obstacle for worshippers on their pilgrimage to Rome.
For this reason, a large number of hospices and monasteries were built along the Via Francigena in the Susa Valley, of which Sacra was the most important.
From the second half of the 13th century, the monastery began to decline due to mismanagement. In 1622, only 3 monks were still living on the summit of Mount Pirchiriano and after 600 years, the Benedictines left the Sacra di San Michele.
The monastery complex fell into disrepair for over 200 years until it was revived in 1836 by the Rosminian Fathers as administrators.
Supported by the visit of Pope John Paul II, many volunteers, private and public institutions and the regional government, the sacred site was elevated to the status of a symbolic monument of Piedmont in 1994.
The Rosminiani monks still live in the abbey today. Due to its proximity to Turin, a visit to the abbey is the perfect Turin day trip.
Sacra di San Michele Magic? The Line of St. Michael
It has many names….: Line of St. Michael, St. Michael’s axis or the Michael’s line. This “magical” line is supposedly a ley line.
Interesting: Ley lines are considered sacred lines in esoteric white magic circles. They form a line of power along which many similar places of worship etc. are located.
The St. Michael’s Axis unites seven monasteries of the Michael Way. This leads from Jerusalem to Ireland. All 7 monasteries on this route are dedicated to St. Michael.
If you draw a straight line on a map, the Sacra di San Michele, just like the other 6 monasteries (the Skelli Church in Ireland, St. Michael’s Mountain in Cornwall, Mont Saint Michel in France, the Benedictine monastery of San Michele Arcangelo near Arcevia, the Basilica di San Michele in Apulia, the Greek monastery of Mixales and Mount Carmel in Israel) lies on a straight line!
The Sacra di San Michele lies exactly halfway between Mont St. Michel in Normandy and Monte Sant’Angelo in Apulia. This particular section of the pilgrimage route is about 2000km long and is called the “Via di Pellegrinaggio”.
The Name of the Rose: Inspired by the Sacra di San Michele
The Middle Ages thriller “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco was published in 1980. Apparently, the writer was allegedly inspired by the impressive Sacra di San Michele monastery complex.
Due to its great success, the bestseller was made into a film in 1986 with Sean Connery and Christian Slater in the leading roles.
As a film location for “The Name of the Rose”, it was initially planned to shoot important scenes in the monastery complex as well, but this was not possible for organizational reasons. Nevertheless, the Sacra di San Michele gained additional worldwide fame thanks to the Hollywood film.
Halfday Tour to Sacra di San Michele
Enjoy a 5-hour excursion directly from Turin city center to the Sacra San Michele with an expert guide.
Sacra di San Michele Tour:
Visit of the stunning monastery complex
The first highlight can be seen even before you reach the official entrance and ticket booth. The 10-minute walk from the parking lot ends on a small plateau with the ruins of a small Romanesque church, the “Sepolcro dei Monaci” (en: monks’ tomb).
From this point, you already have outstanding views as far as Turin, in good weather, and into the Susa Valley on the other side.
Behind the church ruins, a wide path and many steps lead up through a beautiful archway to the ticket boothcounter. It is located in the former small guest house. The larger guest house is now used for conferences.
Good to know before starting the tour: The tour of the Sacra di San Michele is designed as a circular route that begins with a turnstile and ends with another turnstile. A one-way street that you can’t walk into the reverse direction!
There are information boards with QR codes at all important points along the route. Scanning the code provides additional information at the respective stations.
After passing the turnstile, you will have more steep steps to climb. On the left, in front of the large entrance gate to the monastery, you can see the statue of St. Michael the Archangel. The work by Paul dë Doss-Moroder has stood on the rocky cliff since 2005.
Sacra di San Michele Visit
Stairway of Death / Scalone dei Morti
Behind the entrance gate through the massive 41m high wall, you climb up the steep steps of death towards the main church.
The so-called Staircase of Death is a huge, high hall where benefactors and monks of the monastery were buried. Today, only 5 of these tombs remain.
Until 1936, mummified monks were exhibited in the central niche of the Staircase of Death, hence the name. Absolutely impressive!
At the end of the 243 steps, you step back outside through the marble Porta dello Zodiaco dating from 1130. The name comes from the twelve signs of the zodiac carved on the right-hand portal post. There are constellations on the left-hand post.
My tip: There are 2 benches in front of the church portal where you can take a break from the quite exhausting climb and all the steps. From this small balcony, you have a wonderful view of the Susa Valley.
Basilica of the Sacra di San Michele
Inside the Basilica of the Sacra di San Michele, which was built from 1149, you will find ten of the 16 stone sarcophagi of the royal family of the House of Savoy.
Incidentally, the choir area was aligned precisely with the point of the rising sun on September 29, the celebration of St. Michael.
The most sacred place in the Sacra is located below the basilica. Below the church floor, there are three chapels next to each other, which probably date back to the tenth century. They are the first building structures and thus the sanctuary of this place.
There are also precious medieval frescoes and works of art on the walls inside the basilica.
Do not miss: Before you leave the basilica, there is a gate on the left of the exit gate of the that leads to a panoramic terrace. Once again, you have a breathtaking view of the Susa Valley. I really love the information boards about the surrounding mountains.
Visit Sacra di San Michele
New Monastery & Torre di Bell Alda
From the church, the tour continues outside, via many stairs (descending this time), to the ruins of the so-called New Monastery.
Due to earthquakes, war and neglect, the 50m high and probably very impressive building, which once had five floors, fell into ruin. Today, only parts of the walls remain.
Sacra di San Michele Visit
The former corner tower of the New Monastery stands on a rugged rocky cliff with a fantastic view towards Turin and the Po Valley and is known as the “Tower of the Beautiful Alda”. This name “Torre di Bell Alda” goes back to a popular legend.
Legend: The country girl Alda comes up the mountain to pray and is discovered by soldiers. To escape their pursuit, she sends a prayer to St. Michael and throws herself into the abyss. Miraculously, she remains unharmed. When she jumps again, out of vanity and greed, her body shatters on the rock.
This area of the New Monastery also houses the Royal Apartments, the Library and the Museum of Everyday Life. All of these can only be visited during special opening hours.
On the way out, you can continue to enjoy the magnificent view towards Turin. On a small terrace, you can admire a large, cast-iron church bell with beautiful decorations. You then leave the monastery complex and return to the ticket office.
Conclusion of the Sacra San Michele visit
I was absolutely impressed, even after my 3rd visit to the abbey! A tour of this mystical and absolutely impressive place, high above the Susa Valley, is definitely worth the trip!
Grandiose architecture, a beautiful spiritual atmosphere in the church and the outstanding views of the Susa Valley, the Cottian Alps and, in good weather, as far as Turin, make this excursion an unforgettable experience.
Opening hours and entrance fees for the Sacra di San Michele
Sacra di San Michele opening hours
The impressive monastery can be visited daily.
Winter opening hours (November – February): Monday – Sunday between 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Summer opening hours (March – October): Monday – Sunday between 9.30am – 5.30pm.
On Sundays from 11.30 am to 1.00pm admission is only permitted for Holy Mass.
Sacra di San Michele Admission prices
Price per adult: € 8.00
Reduced price for 6-18 year olds: € 6.00
Children from 0 to 6 years are free of charge.
Free admission for holders of the Torino+Piemonte Card.
The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the monastery closes.
An audio guide is available at the ticket office for € 2.00 for a visit to the abbey.
Guided tours (in Italian):
In the summer months there is a guided tour (in Italian language only) on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 and 15:00. It lasts about 1 hour and follows the same route as the individual tour.
If you speak Italian and would like to take part in one of these tours, you will have to buy an online ticket in advance.
Price per adult: € 10.00 per person
Reduced price for 6-18 year olds: € 8.00
My Tip: On the first Saturday of every month, a special tour (exclusively in Italian) takes place in the Sacra di Michele. In addition to the regular tour you can visit the library with its approx. 10,000 books, the ancient halls of the House of Savoy and the “Museo del quotidiano” museum of everyday life.
Duration: 2h
Price per adult: € 12.00 per person
Reduced price for 6-18 year olds: € 10.00
Roundtrip Hike to Sacra di San Michele
The starting point for this beautiful circular hike is the parking lot on the SS25 (⇨ coordinates) between the villages of Sant’Ambrogio di Torino and Chiusa di San Michele.
Past the access point for the via ferrata Carlo Giorda, the route follows a wide hiking trail parallel to the main road into the beautiful village of Sant’Ambrogio di Torino.
The former mule track leading to the Sacra, signposted at “Antica Mullatiera”, starts at the village church.
Not far above the village, we pass the entrance to the “Parco Emozionale del Bosco delle Meraviglie”. The paid “Boscodellemeraviglie” was created as an alternative to large amusement parks.
We stay on the original mule track, which leads us steadily uphill in serpentines. There are stone crosses at almost every bend on the paved path, as well as many benches, seating areas and fountains with drinking water.
The views of the Susa Valley become more beautiful with every curve we take! At some point, we reach the village of San Pietro.
We cross it and then follow a final ascent to the parking lot at Piazzale Croce Nera of the Sacra di San Michele. From here it is only about another 10 minutes on a flat little road to the monastery complex.
After the abbey’s visit, we take the hiking trail from the parking lot in the direction of Chiusa di San Michele, which starts right next to the Ristaurante della Sacra.
From here, the mule track (Mulattiera or also signposted Sentiero 503) leads steadily downhill through the forest to the village. Once again on ground level, alongsite the main road, it then leads us back to the starting point.
My hiking tip: The hiking trail from Chiusa di San Michele to the impressive monastery complex leads mostly through the forest and along the north side of the mountain. This means that the path is completely shaded! It is correspondingly cold in winter and shady and cooler in summer.
The hiking trail from the direction of Sant’Ambrogio di Torino also leads through the forest, but there are also many light spots on this path. In summer, when temperatures are high, the ascent can be quite strenuous.
This information should be taken into account when planning the hiking route and considering which direction to hike up or down.
Route details: Sacra di San Michele Roundtrip
Start & Finish point: Car Parking for the Via Ferrata to the Sacra di San Michele (⇨ coordinats)
Length: 8,4km
Altitue meter: ↑ 540 / ↓ 540
Difficulty level: intermediate – difficult
⇨ GPX Details and more pictures on Komoot
Hike from Avigliana to Sacra di San Michele (One-Way)
This hike starts at Avigliana train station and leads past several great viewpoints and attractions before arriving at the monastery.
To start with, you head uphill along the old roads of Avigliana to the ruins of the Castello di Avigliana.
From the old castle walls, you have a fantastic view of the town, the two lakes and the Sacra di San Michele in the distance. The well-signposted hiking trail leads through the forest past several viewpoints down to the plain.
The route follows a flat and wide paths to the village of Bertassi. From here, you hike steadily uphill in hairpin bends through the forest.
After the village of Mortera, the trail continues uphill, but no longer solely through the forest. The higher you get on the “Sentiero dei Principi” hiking trail, the more amazing the views towards Turin become.
Once you reach the highest point of the hiking trail, you turn a curve and have the impressive monastery walls in front of you! This outstanding view from Punta dell’Acconcia is my absolute highlight of the tour.
From this point onwards, the final stretch of the hike is flat, with the monastery always in sight.
Route deatils: Avigliana to Sacra di San Michele (one-way)
Starting point: Avigliana Train Station
Finish point: Sacra di San Michele
Length: 13km
Altitude meter: ↑ 790 / ↓ 250
Difficulty: intermediate – difficult
⇨ GPX Details and more pictures on Komoot
Halfday Tour to Sacra di San Michele
Enjoy a 5-hour excursion directly from Turin city center to the Sacra San Michele with an expert guide.
Via ferrata Carlo Giorda to Sacra di San Michele
The famous Sacra di San Michele is also a popular destination for climbers. On Mount Pirchiriano, a via ferrata with great views leads to the foot of the abbey. Jan has already mastered it twice, while I hiked up the mountain at the same time.
The Via ferrata Carlo Giorda starts directly at the parking lot (⇨ coordinates) at an altitude of 360 meters and leads along the north side of Pirchiriano.
The highlight of this via ferrata is a 90-metre-long wire rope bridge, a Ponte Tibetano. Overall, the via ferrata is not particularly difficult but quite long. You should allow approx. 3.5 – 4 hours.
The via ferrata can only be done in one direction (upwards)! For the way back, you can either take the mule track to Sant’ Ambrogio di Torino or the forest path to the village of Chiusa di San Michele.
How to get to the Sacra di San Michele and parking
The Sacra di Michele is very easy to reach by car. Coming from Turin, you can take the highway in the direction of Frejus and the Avigliana Centro exit. From here there are road signs to the parking lot of the monastery complex (40km / approx. 50 min.).
The journey and travel time via the SP24 country road is free of charge as it does not lead you via the toll highway and is only a few minutes longer. Therefore I recommend that route.
From the parking lot in Piazzale Croce Nera (⇨ coordinates), you will need to walk about 15 minutes on a small concrete road to the abbey. The parking costs € 2.00 for the first hour and € 1.50 for each additional hour, with a maximum charge of € 6.00 for the whole day.
My Tip: In combination with the Fenestrelle Fort in Val Chisone and the beautiful city of Susa, the Sacra can be part of a fantastic Piedmont Roadtrip.
Conclusion
The Sacra di San Michele is more than just a remarkable building on Mount Pirchiriano; it’s an important spiritual site in the Piedmont region.
Its long history, starting from its construction in the late 10th century to its role as a destination for pilgrims, shows its deep cultural and religious importance.
As a visitor to the abbey you can explore its impressive basilica and halls and enjoy the beautiful views of Susa vally and even Turin in the far. That area’s key symbol needs to be on everybodys list when visting Piedmont and the north west of Italy.
