The sanctuary on the mountaintop: the Sacra di San Michele
About 1,000 kilometers south of the Breton islet, on the Alpine arc of the Susa Valley in the province of Turin, Piedmont, lies the first of the two Italian sanctuaries of the Via Micaelica, the Sacra di San Michele.
Built starting in the year 1000 by five Benedictine monks at the behest of Bishop Annuncone, the Sacra di San Michele rises perched 962 meters above sea level at the tip of Mount Pirchiriano in the Cottian Alps.
As with Le Mont Saint-Michel, legend has it that it was the Archangel Michael himself who ordered the bishop to build the temple on the rugged rocky outcrop.
This place cloaked in archaic mysticism has been the custodian of a strong interweaving of myth and history since Roman times and offers all its beauty only to the most willing: to visit the abbey church, one must climb 239 stone steps!
According to legend a sword stroke by Archangel Michael drew a line connecting seven incredible places of worship from Ireland to Israel, via England, France, Italy and Greece. An itinerary that spans time, history, and unique landscapes, to be traveled by any means and by any route, including the Tibetan bridge!
Here we talk about our codified "guardian of the valley" here, but nothing prevents you from delving into the other places/points.
The aura of mystery in the shadow of the severe architecture is such that Umberto Eco set his masterpiece "The Name of the Rose" there.
The Sacra can be reached on foot and by bicycle from Turin, following some sections of the Via Francigena, and some local trails through the woods. Because of elevation gains of up to 600 meters and more, some of the trails are recommended only for the most experienced two-wheelers.
In addition, it is possible to reach the medieval monastery via the Ferrata Carlo Giorda, an adventurous but not too difficult climbing route. The route runs along the rocky slabs on the north side of the mountain and also includes an 80-meter Tibetan overhead bridge.
