Susa – Sacra di San Michele – Colle del Lys – Lake of Malciaussia – Colombardo – Susa MIXED

The proposed itinerary is a truly evocative and diverse loop straddling the Susa Valley and the Viù Valley to the north with the passage to Piedmont’s iconic monument, the Sacra di San Michele, reached by a ridge route, the passage through the historic centerof Avigliana and then venturing across the Colle del Lys into the Lanzo Valleys are to Lake Malciaussia and returning to the Susa Valley from the mountain of Condove via the spectacular dirt road of the Colle del Colombardo.

From Susa, one climbs on asphalt to Meana di Susa and Mattie, then passes along some hamlets of Bussoleno, among towers and castles: an up and down that continues until reaching the Martinetti di San Giorio di Susa. Po co later you turn left and face a challenging dirt stretch of a few kilometers among centuries-old chestnut groves and ancient stone quarries to emerge on the scenic balcony at the remains of the Benedictine Charterhouse of Banda Villar Focchiardo, at an altitude of 700 m. Opposite is the profile of Sacra.

Sci descends toward Sant’Antonino di Susa and following the signs begins to climb to Borgata Cresto on narrow, steep asphalt switchbacks. In 7 km you ese from the forest and activate on the ridge from where you overlook the entire Susa Valley. Opposite on the other side is the way back. We then continue eastward for as many kilometers also on dirt road and reach the Braida Hill below which towers the Sacra di San Michele. Descending to the left along the provincial road of the same name, you arrive at the parking lot at a wide curve. To enjoy the visit or the close-up view of the thousand-year-old Abbey it will be necessary to walk a few hundred meters, as it is mandatory to leave the vehicle…

La Sacra di San Michele.

An iconic monument of Piedmont, the Abbey of San Michele della Chiusa was founded between 983 and 987; and was one of the most famous Benedictine abbeys in northern Italy and is among the largest architectural complexes of the Romanesque period in Europe. It inspired Umberto Eco for his novel “The Name of the Rose.” It was built on the rocky spur of Mount Pirchiriano, at about 930 m., along the Micaelic path (and the line that incredibly crosses these sites) that leads from Mont St. Michel to St. Michael del Gargano. It dominates the entire Susa Valley and the Turin plain.

Its construction, begun around a tricora church dedicated to Archangel Michael, was completed between the 11th and 14th centuries. Subject to gradual decline, it saw the suppression of monastic life within its walls in 1622. The abbey, also used as a fort, was damaged in 1691 by French troops. It was not until 1836 that the ancient monastery resumed its religious functions, with the arrival of the community of Rosminian fathers who still reside there today.

The Sacra di San Michele has unique artistic and architectural elements, such as the Portal of the Zodiac and the Staircase of the Dead (12th cent.) and, on the outside, the Sepulchre of the Monks, while the interior of the abbey church is embellished by Romanesque sculptures in the apse area and numerous frescoes from the 15th-16th centuries. The tour is enriched periodically by the special opening of the library, with texts from the 17th century onward.

From the Sacra you continue to descend until you reach Avigliana, “Medieval town with a green heart,” with its two Lakes and one of the most beautiful historic centers in Piedmont, which is well worth a ride.

The Lys Pass

Crossing the valley floor, from Almese you begin the climb to be made by motorcycle to Colle del Lys at an elevation of 1,311; the road (SP 97) is winding with wide hairpin bends and switchbacks alternating with curves and counter-curves. You drive surrounded by greenery, among broadleaf trees and then also conifers, in the territory of a Provincial Park. In about 13 km, it goes up to the Hill where there is a monument with the Ecomuseum of Resistance. The descent on Viù, is winding and fun, but requires careful driving.

The Lake of Malciaussia

It is an artificial body of water, located at 1,805 m in the Viù Valley, in the hamlet of Malciaussia of the municipality of Usseglio, at the foot of the Rocciamelone on the opposite side of the Susa Valley.

From Viù, one then turns left onto SP 32 to then ascend to Usseglio and then tackle the last steep section of about 10 kilometers, in a very narrow single lane and deep in the woods, that reaches the lake. A few kilometers after the village, in the locality of Forno, you can admire the small Humpback Bridge, but very beautiful, with stone arch dating from 1477 with aedicule in the center dedicated to Our Lady.

The access of the final section is subject to regulation during the summer period: once the maximum capacity of the parking lot at the lake is reached, SP32, Margone – Malciaussia section, is closed to traffic; and additional motorized access is allowed as parking spaces and motorcycles become free.

The ascent to Colombardo from Lemie

The Colombardo o Collombardo is a wide grassy hill at an elevation of 1,898 m. which divides the Susa Valley from the Viù Valley. At the top the view is magnificent, you can see the Lakes of Avigliana, the Sacra di San Michele and far beyond is a wide grassy hill that connects the Susa Valley with the Viù Valley, on one side the municipality of Condove and on the other the municipality of Lemie. It has always been a smooth and busy route for connections and exchanges for a wide variety of reasons, but also persin grazing wars between valley dwellers. At the top of the Hill is the Alpine Shrine of Our Lady of the Angels.

Collombardo takes its name from “Hill of the Lombards”: their reign stretched toward France as far as Avigliana where it culminated with the Valsusine Locks the legendary system of fortifications, built to defend the border and the scene of the battle and their defeat recounted in Manzoni’s Adelchi of 773 AD, when Charlemagne decided to invade Italy.

From the lake, head back toward Lemie, descending again to the 180° turn off to the right, which takes the narrow Vallorsera Communal Road to Sant’Antonio. It climbs into the woods after about 4 km. past the last huts, it becomes an easy dirt road at first, which then gradually gives way to a rather stony surface as you ascend into a beautiful alpine landscape.

At the Sanctuary by making a hundred meters or so you can enjoy the view beyond the ridge over the entire valley below, the Lakes of Avigliana, the Sacra and the plain.

The road continues further uphill to about 2,100 m. passing the alpine pastures, with another beautiful terraced viewpoint at the highest point of the road. It proceeds southward toward Prato del Rio: after a series of curves with breathtaking views, you arrive on the Susa Valley side. Among meadows and alpine pastures the dirt road continues to Prato del Rio, from here it descends on asphalt, crossing a series of mountain hamlets, until it incorporates the Strada Comunale per Mocchie. From here, turning left after about 10 km, you will reach Condove descending between switchbacks and hairpin bends along all the mountain hamlets of this alpine municipality.

Once on the SS.24, we return to Susa, following a secondary route that from Borgone di Susa touches all the villages and hamlets at the foot of the slope, thus avoiding the main traffic, and with a few surprises of landscape and medieval architecture.