Basilica of Superga, Catholic church building in Turin, Italy
The Basilica of Superga is a pilgrimage site and royal burial complex on a wooded hill east of Turin with sweeping views over the city and the Alps. The church follows a circular plan crowned by a dome and drum, flanked by two symmetrical bell towers and a portico with columned entrance.
The Duke of Savoy commissioned architect Filippo Juvarra in 1716 to build the basilica after the House of Savoy had defended Turin against French troops in the War of the Spanish Succession. Construction lasted fourteen years and was completed in 1731, with the complex later becoming the burial site for several generations of the ruling family.
The name stems from the Latin Mons Superga, referring to the hill where the sanctuary was built. Visitors today see the complex as both pilgrimage site and memorial, with ceremonies that keep alive both the royal past and remembrance of the dead.
Access is via a rack railway that climbs the slope from the city outskirts, passing several stops before reaching the esplanade. On clear days the climb to the viewing platform under the dome is worthwhile for the panoramic view, while fog can severely limit visibility.
A side area commemorates the air crash of 1949 in which the entire team of football club Torino died when their plane hit the rear wall of the hill in thick fog. A small memorial with photographs and flowers marks the impact site and still draws supporters today.
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