Description of the attraction
Avigliana is a city of history and art located in the Italian Val di Susa in Piedmont. Its name comes from the name of the Roman family Avilli, who lived on the plain in the place where the village of Malano is today.
The old medieval center of Avigliana - Borgo Vecchio - lies on the northern slopes of Monte Pezzulano. Since its founding, it has played an important role in trade between western Europe and Italy, as it stood right on the road to France. During the reign of the Savoy dynasty, its importance only increased. It is also believed that Beato Umberto III (1127-1189) and Count Amedeo VII Rosso (1360-1391) were born in Avigliana.
After Turin was chosen as the capital of the Sardinian Kingdom, Avigliana lost its significance. The defensive systems of the castle, built in the 10th century on Mount Pezzulano to protect the city, also lost their military significance, and the castle itself was turned into an aristocratic residence. The events of the 17th century led to its oblivion - in 1630 it was seriously damaged during a plague epidemic, and half a century later it was rebuilt. Nowadays, the castle is almost entirely in ruins.
One of the attractions of Avigliana is its medieval buildings, erected in the 12-15th centuries and reflecting the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. Among them are the churches of San Pietro, Santa Maria and San Giovanni with graceful porticoes, aristocratic houses in the squares of Piazza Conte Rosso and Piazza Santa Maria and the city walls.
Since Avigliana is located in the Laghi di Avigliana Natural Park, it is also notable for its surroundings. The central hills of the Montecapretto ridge on the northern side of Lago Grande are covered with ash, elm, carob and cherry trees. In these forests, you can see huge boulders - silent witnesses of the Ice Age.
