Quick Guide to Susa, Piedmont

Published June 12, 2010 at 7:52 a.m.

At the foot of the Cottian Alps, Susa lies on the banks of the Dora Riparia only 55 km west of Turin. Admire the mighty Roman Gate, see Italy's smallest amphitheatre and enjoy some fine food and great wines...

Susa, once known as the 'Gate to Italy', has always been a town of great strategic importance. Founded by the Gauls, it joined the Roman Empire voluntarily and was later visited by Hannibal and his elephants, conquered by Constantine, captured by Charlemagne and destroyed by Barbarossa in 1174, but soon rose again. The whole area in and around Susa was reinvigorated before, during and after the Turin Winter Olympics of 2006, when the Val di Susa hosted several events. Since then Susa and the region have never looked back. A charming town with a special atmosphere and one really not to be missed, especially as three major routes pass through or very near Susa, the Mont Cenis pass, the Frejus tunnel and the Montgenèvre pass.
Local Events:

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July: Il Torneo Storico dei Borghi di Susa, a historical tournament featuring torchlit parades, tugs of war, archery and more and Arte e Artigiani della Valle di Susa, a traditional arts and crafts fair.

September: International Beer Festival, beer, food, music and more beer! and Castagna d'Oro, the Golden Chestnut, folk groups from around the world gather in the town.

December: "Stella Cometa", Christmas market.

Susa Must Do - Top Ten Tips:
1) Visit the Duomo di San Giusto, Susa Cathedral founded in 1027 and see the Baptismal font carved from a single block of marble.
2) See the adjacent Romanesque, 51 m high Campanile di San Giusto.
3) Admire the Arco di Augusto, the triumphal Arch of Augustus, erected in 8 B.C., one of the best preserved arches in North Italy.
4) See the smallest Roman Amphitheatre in Italy, built around 2 A.D.
5) View the Castello della Contessa Adelaide di Susa which dates back to the 10th century and today houses the City Museum.
6) Stroll through the amazing Roman gate, the Porta Savoia, and symbol of the town.
7) See the wonderful frescos and beautiful cloisters at the 13th century Convento di San Francesco, in Piazza San Francesco.
8) Visit the Museo Diocesano, an expression of the historical journey taken by the people of the Susa Valley.
9) See the 14th century Torre dei Rotari in the arcade lined Via Palazzo di Città, one of the two remaining medieval towers in the town.
10) View the remains of the 3rd century Graziane Thermal aquaduct constructed by Valentinian I.

Food and Drink:

In 1997 the Val di Susa obtained the designation 'VALSUSA DOC', reserved for red wine and obtained from grapes such as: Avanà, Barbera, Dolcetto, Neretta Cuneese, whether used alone or together. Much of this wine is produced on terraced vineyards up to an altitude of 1000 metres. Liqueurs from this area are made from wild herbs and flowers. Amaro alle Erbe Alpine, Garus Susino, Genepy and Genziana are to name but a few.

The area is also famous for its cold cuts of meats such as Bondiola, made with beef and pork, the medium-coarse grained Salame Mica and Prosciuttello dell'Alta Val di Susa the only raw ham seasoned in Piedmont. Cheeses like Toma are ripened in caves, Brus, Murianengo and Tomino di Rubiana are other cheeses worth trying.

How to get there:

Susa is located in the Province of Torino, Piedmont.

By Plane: The most convenient airports to the Valle di Susa are Cuneo, Milan and Turin. The Aeroporto di Torino (Turin) is about one hour whilst the Milan Malpensa airport is about two hours. Both are well served by major airlines and budget ones such as Easyjet and Ryanair. Cuneo airport, Aeroporto Internazionale di Cuneo is about one and a half hours but has more limited connections.

By Car: From Turin, 55 km: take the A32 Autostrada Turin to Bardonecchia exit at Susa east. From France: take either the Frejus tunnel, exit at Susa Nord or the Montgenèvre Pass or during the summer it is possible to travel via the Mont Cenis Pass.

By Bus: A daily service runs from Turin and stops at Susa.

By Train: Local trains connect Susa to Turin and Chambéry in France.

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