Avigliana, located at a transit point between Italy and France, in the morainic amphitheater between Mount Pirchiriano, on which stands the Sacra di San Michele, and the hill of Rivoli, in the past enjoyed much prestige.
Among the things to visit, besides its beautiful medieval hamlet, which is about fifteen to twenty minutes from the train station, and which is considered to be one of the best preserved in Piedmont, there are the two lakes, which are part of the Avigliana Lakes Nature Park.
Deciding to start from the hamlet and, arriving from Corso Laghi, you can take Via Umberto I, in whose vicinity is the Clock Tower, up Piazza San Giovanni where the and beautiful church of the same name stands out, in whose interior are some fascinating works by the painter Defendente Ferrarti, including the Triptych of the Madonna della Mercede, the Triptych of St. Jerome, and the Polyptych of the Nativity. Continuing along via Garibaldi, you reach the heart of the city at piazza del Conte Rosso, where the City Hall is located.
From here you can climb to the Castle, now ruined. It was built in 924 by the Marquis of Turin Arduino il Glabro, but in the course of centuries it was plundered many times and much of it destroyed by Frederick Barbarossa.
At the foot of its remains however, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains of the Susa Valley and ofthe picturesque big lake.
If you wish, a trail begins from here that leads down to the lake; the trail takes about an hour.
If, on the other hand, you want to continue your visit to the hamlet, you can go down Via Rosa via the beautiful Casa Cantamerlo, named for a little bird placed above the building's medieval tower, where the poet Norberto Rosa lived for a short time.
Shortly after, past the house, is Porta Ferrata which leads into the second part of the hamlet, where there are other ancient buildings, including the Bishop's House, the Casa di Porta Ferrata, the Casa del Beato Umberto.
To reach the lake, you can return to Corso Laghi and walk down to number 420, here there is a drop-off that leads not only to the Nautical Club, but also to the shores of the lake.
You can walk around the entire perimeter of the lake, following a very scenic and suggestive walking path.
Last but not least, the important Via Francigena also passes through Avigliana. Historically it was the route that connected the territories dominated by the Franks to Rome; while today it is a cultural itinerary that leads, from Canterbury Cathedral in England toBasilica di San Pietro in Rome.
The stretches around Avigliana are many, you can go toward Susa via Sant'Ambrogio or decide to go through the old hamlet to arrive, via Galiier, at the Museum Ex Dinamitificio Nobel .
Along this route you can take a detour to San Rocco Chapel, nestled within a beautiful, closed forest.
Foto e testo @alessandra.corra
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