Juvarra's dome
The crowning masterpiece on the highest hill โ seeing Turin, seen by it.
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The 1940s side that dominated the calcio and formed Italy's national spine โ returning from a farewell match in Lisbon, its aircraft lost the hill in fog and struck it, all aboard dying (1949): thirty-one, eighteen of them players. A whole nation's mourning still lives โ and the site behind the church is Turinese courtesy even for non-fans.
The Sassi tram up (note return times at purchase), basilica then dome for stair-lovers, the tombs tour, the shrine behind โ lunch or coffee at the hill restaurant with its view. The last pre-sunset descent returns you as the city lights.
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On Turin's highest hill (672 m) the Superga basilica crowns the eastern skyline: a king's vow fulfilled โ Vittorio Amedeo II stood here in 1706 with the French besieging his capital and vowed the Virgin a church for victory; victorious, he set Juvarra to it, who delivered his absolute masterpiece: dome and classical portico visible from all the city, the crypt beneath holding the Savoy kings by their generations. The hill bears Italy's eternal tear as well: in the fog of 1949 the aircraft carrying the great Torino team โ the Grande Torino, Italian football's whole legend โ struck the basilica's rear; the impact site behind the church remains a pilgrimage of scarves to this day. Arrival is half the journey: a venerable rack tramway (1884) climbs the wooded hill from Sassi station in eighteen heritage minutes โ and the trio of train, dome and Alpine panorama makes Turin's ideal half day.
The crowning masterpiece on the highest hill โ seeing Turin, seen by it.
The dynasty's generations in the marble crypt.
The 1949 plaque and the scarves โ Italian football's pilgrimage.
Turin a carpet, the Alpine arc the whole horizon's wall.
Strada Basilica di Superga 73, 10132 Turin