Description of the attraction
Susa is a city on the territory of the Italian ski resort Val di Susa in Piedmont, located at the confluence of the Cheniscia and Dora Riparia rivers at the foot of the Cote Alps. Turin is 53 km to the west. According to the latest census, about 7 thousand people live in Susa.
The city lies in the center of the valley of the same name and is part of the Valle Susa and Valle Sangone Mountain Communities. Determining the exact date of the founding of Susa and even calling the tribes who first settled these lands is very difficult today. We can only say with certainty that the tribes of the Ligurs lived here, then the Celts came to their place (about 500 BC), who mixed with the indigenous population. At the end of the 1st century BC. Susa became part of the Roman Empire - in the central square of the city, Piazza Savoia, fragments of an ancient Roman settlement were discovered during archaeological excavations. Due to its geographical position, the city has long been the capital of the small Roman province of the Cote Alps. And the medieval historian Rudolf Glaber even called it "the oldest city in the Alps".
In the Middle Ages and later, Susa remained an important settlement at the crossroads of the roads connecting Italy with France. Already during the reign of Napoleon, a new road was built here - Via Napoleonica. Recently, Susa's role as a major transport hub has been reaffirmed in a national debate on the construction of a high-speed railway that would link Turin to Lyon, France.
In recent years, tourism has begun to play an important role in the city's economy. To develop the appropriate infrastructure, many interesting museums, cultural centers, etc. have been opened in Susa, for example, the Museum of Religious Art of the Alps, which organizes thematic exhibitions and other events.
Among the main attractions of the city, it is worth noting the Cathedral of San Giusto, built in the 11th century, the triumphal Arch of Augustus, erected in the 8th century BC, the ancient Roman amphitheater, the ruins of the ancient aqueduct and the castle of the Marquis of Adelaide. Piazza Savoia, the main square of Susa, was founded on the site of an ancient city, as evidenced by archaeological finds. From the Middle Ages to the present day, the Casa de Bartolomei house with a bell tower has been preserved. And of the religious buildings, the Romanesque Church of San Saturnino and the Monastery of San Francesco are also noteworthy.
