Turin - Surroundings

Alba (34km/21 mi; alt. 172m/568ft; pop. 31,000), has a Gothic cathedral (beautiful choir-stalls of 1512), fine churches and medieval towers. The road through the Monferrato then continues through the vine-growing Langhe region, where the much sought-after white truffles are harvested in autumn, and down the valley of the Bormida, on the edge of the Ligurian Apennines, to Savona, on the Riviera dei Fiori. Turin via Acqui Terme to Genoa (about 185km/115 mi) Another interesting drive leads from Turin via Acqui Terme to Genoa. Leave on S.S. 29 (the Alessandria road), which runs through Poirino (249m/822ft).

A few miles northeast of Alba is the village of Barbaresco.

14km/9mi northwest of Sauze d'Oulx is the village of Bardonecchia, a popular resort both in summer and winter (1,312m/4,330ft; pop. 3,000). It lies near the entrance to the Galleria del Freàjus, the first Alpine tunnel (1861-70), leading to the French town of Modane (Mont Cenis rail tunnel, 13.6km/8.5mi long; road tunnel 12.3km/7.5mi long). From Bardonecchia there are a number of chair-lifts, including one via Granges Hyppolites (1,520m/5,016ft: change lifts) up Colomion (2,054m/6,778ft).

The region surrounding the village of Barelo is world renowned.

86km/53mi northeast of Turin, beautifully situated in the foothills of the Alps on the River Cervo, is the industrial town of Biella (420m/1,386ft; pop. 52,000). In the lower town are the cathedral (originally built 1402, rebuilt 1772, facade 1825), and adjoining an early Romanesque baptistery (ninth-10th centuries) and the Town Hall. In the southwest part of the lower town stands the beautiful Renaissance church of San Sebastiano (1604; facade 1882). To the west, above the lower town (funicular), is the picturesque upper town or Piazzo, from which there are fine views.

Campo Ligure (342m/1,129ft; pop. 4,000), a picturesquely situated little town and summer resort with a tower which belonged to a 13th century castle. There is an interesting museum with local filigree work.

Cesana Torinese (1,354m/4,468ft), where it joins the road from Turin via Susa. Chair-lift to Sagna Longa (2,002m/6,607ft) and Colle Bercia (Monti della Luna, 2,203m/7,270ft). Beyond Cesana the road continues to climb.

Claviere or Clavières (1,760m/5,808ft), a resort much favored by winter sports enthusiasts; chair-lift to La Cloche (1,960m/6,468ft). Soon after Claviere the road comes to the French frontier.

Col de Montgenèvre (1,854m/6,118ft; winter sports, chair-lifts to 2,600m/8,580ft), formerly an important Alpine pass providing the shortest route between the Po valley and southern France, used by Julius Caesar and in the Middle Ages by the Emperor Barbarossa among many others. Turin via Susa to the Montgenèvre pass (about 95km/59mi)

Exiles is a picturesque village dominated by a massive fortress (17th century); fine views.

Fenestrelle (1,154m/3,808ft) is a city with imposing fortifications extending up to the 18th century fort of San Carlo, linked by 4,000 steps.

During the time of Julius Caesar it was already a fortified Roman outpost on the edge of the empire hence it's name is derived from "Finis Terre" as it bordered the land of King Cottie or Cotzi (Pro Roman Celtic ruler).

The Fortezza di Fenestrelle is the largest fortress in Europe with Fort San Carlo at the bottom and Forte del Valle at the top connected by a covered staircase of 3996 steps.

Mont Cenis pass (Col du Mont Cenis, 2,084m/6,877ft), on the old French-Italian frontier. Beyond Susa the Montgenèvre road (S.S. 24) passes through a gorge formed by the Dora Riparia.

Nizza Monferrato (138m/455ft; pop. 10,000) is a little vine-growing town on the River Belbo. The road runs over a hill and enters the wide valley of the Bormida.

Oulx (1,100m/3,630ft), 5km/3mi east of which is the winter sports resort of Sauze d'Oulx (1,510m/4,983ft; chair-lifts, including to Sportinia (2,170m/7,161ft), to the south.

Passo del Paradiso, which since 1947 has marked the French-Italian frontier. 4km/2.5mi to the left is the Lac du Mont Cenis, in a beautiful setting (1,913m/6,313ft).

Passo del Turchino (532m/1,756ft: short tunnel), from which the road runs down into the pleasant valley of the Leiro.

Perosa Argentina (614m/2,026ft; pop. 5,000) is a little industrial town mainly populated by Waldensians. The road then traverses a gorge and before reaching Fenestrelle passes the large Agnelli Sanatorium, on a hill to the right (1,700m/5,610ft; road, 6.5km/4mi, and cableway).

Piano d'Isola (130m/429ft). The road now leaves the Tanaro valley and traverses a densely populated upland region (vine-growing).

Pinerolo (376m/1,241ft; pop. 36,000) is a beautifully situated town with an 11th century cathedral. In the church of San Maurizio is a burial vault of the house of Savoy. Beyond this stands the church of the Madonna delle Grazie, from which there is a fine view of Monviso (3,841m/12,675ft).

Leave Turin on S.S. 25, going west. In 13km/8mi the road comes to Rivoli (390m/1,287ft; pop. 5,000), an old-world town situated between morainic hills, once a favorite residence of the house of Savoy, with a Baroque palace (by Juvarra, 1712), of which only a third was completed (419m/1,383ft). Beyond Rivoli the road enters the Cottian Alps and ascends the Val di Susa, the valley of the Dora Riparia. At the mouth of the valley, on a hill to the left, is the Sacra di San Michele abbey (11th-13th centuries: alt. 962m/3,175ft).

Stupinigi (244m/805ft) is a magnificent Baroque castle (by Filippo Juvarra, 1729-33), set in a large park which now houses the Museo d'Arte e dell'Ammobigliamento.