Basilica di Superga

Turin's baroque crown on the hill

On a hill roughly 670 metres high east of the Po river stands the Basilica di Superga, visible from large parts of the city. It was built by Filippo Juvarra between 1717 and 1731, after Duke Vittorio Amedeo II vowed to build it in thanks for victory over the French siege of Turin (1706). The 75-metre-high dome, flanked by two bell towers, and the classically styled colonnaded portico make it one of the great works of Piedmontese baroque. Today the basilica is cared for by the religious community Fraternità della Speranza; the church and Cappella del Voto are free to enter.

The Savoy royal crypt

Beneath the basilica lies the Cripta Reale, the burial place of the House of Savoy. It holds the kings of Sardinia – from Vittorio Amedeo II (1732), the dynasty's first king, through Carlo Emanuele III, Vittorio Amedeo III and Vittorio Emanuele I (1824), to Carlo Alberto (1849), whose large sarcophagus stands at the centre. The later kings of Italy, by contrast, are buried in the Pantheon in Rome. The crypt can only be visited on a guided tour (€6, concession €5); the tour is given in Italian, with other languages available for an extra charge. The royal apartment (€6, concession €5) can be booked separately and is limited to two visits per day.

Views and the dome climb

For many visitors, the panorama is the real reason for the trip: on a clear day the view stretches across all of Turin to the full Alpine arc, including Monviso and Gran Paradiso. For an even higher vantage point, take the dome climb (€4, concession €3) up to the balcony of the 75-metre dome. It is closed in bad weather or strong wind, and for safety reasons children under 6 are not allowed on the balcony. The trip is most rewarding on clear days – in hazy conditions the mountain views disappear, leaving mainly the building itself.

The Grande Torino memorial

At the rear of the basilica, a memorial marks the Superga air disaster: on 4 May 1949, the aircraft carrying the entire Torino FC squad – the legendary Grande Torino – crashed here in fog. A plaque bearing the names of the 31 victims stands at the point of impact, and the impact marks on the masonry have deliberately been left visible. The site remains a place of pilgrimage for fans to this day; every year on 4 May a memorial mass is held, at which the victims' names are read out symbolically at 17:03, the time of the crash.

Getting there and practical information

The most atmospheric way up is the historic Sassi–Superga rack railway, which climbs the 3,100-metre route from Sassi station from 225 to around 650 metres above sea level – in 2026, once again with restored original carriages. On the summer timetable from 3 April 2026 it runs hourly from 10:00 to 18:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9:00 to 20:00 at weekends and on public holidays; it doesn't run on Wednesdays. On weekdays the fare is €4 one way or €6 return, and €6/€9 on Saturdays and public holidays; the Torino+Piemonte Card gets you the concession rate. Alternatively, buses and a winding road lead up to the address Strada Comunale alla Basilica di Superga 73.

From 1 March 2026, opening hours are uniform for the basilica, crypt, apartment and dome: Monday to Friday 10:00–13:30 and 14:30–18:00, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–19:00 continuous. Allow half a day for the journey there and back plus the visit. If you want to combine this hilltop destination with Turin's baroque city centre, it pairs well with the Reggia di Venaria or the Palazzo Reale, two more Savoy residences.