Whatever the season, visiting Avigliana is like taking a trip back in time to the Middle Ages, the period in which the village reached its maximum splendour. Avigliana was an urban centre of great importance, and indeed surpassed Turin in number of inhabitants.
Tourist Information Office
Corso Laghi, 389 – 10051 Avigliana (TO)
When you reach the old town centre, close your eyes and imagine it brimming with life and wealth at the crossroads between Turin and France.
Then open your eyes and look for the signs that history has left as a reminder of its greatness and importance. For example, just near the beautiful Piazza Conte Rosso, you will find a cannonball from the 1600s lodged in one of its oldest buildings.
Once there, as you admire the buildings, don’t be surprised if a mischievous child on a stone column makes faces at the people passing by. Along the sightseeing loop itinerary, information panels give you the history of Avigliana: its magnificent palaces, its beautiful churches, the famous Clock Tower and its gates.
The old town is dominated by the walls of the Castle (tenth century). In the Middle Ages this was the seat of the travelling court of the Savoy family. The story of Filippo d’Acaja is fascinating: he was the rebel prince of the family, confined to the castle prison. Legend has it that his spirit still wanders through the mists of the lake where he was drowned.
The intricate maze of squares and arcaded streets contains important works of art, crafts and excellent food and wine products.
Beato Umberto III of Savoy House
The building owes its name to a local 19th century tradition, but there is a discrepancy between its construction [...]
Cantamerlo House
The Cantamerlo's villa (the Singing Blackbird) receives its name by a fresco of the singing bird painted on [...]
Chapel of Our Lady of Grace
This chapel, dedicated to Madonna delle Grazie, is located on the site of a 14th century Trinity Church, [...]
Clock Tower
In the historical centre, remains of towers, walls and gates can be seen. Only apparently disorganised, in reality [...]
Conte Rosso square
In the XIIth century they built the so-called Borgo Nuovo of which Conte Rosso Square was the organizational [...]
Largo Beato Umberto
It is called this way in honour of Blessed Humbert III of Savoy. In this lengthened square there [...]
Oratorio del Gesù
The internal baroque style is in opposition to the ogival windows, surely older and later walled up but [...]
Our Lady of Lakes Sanctuary
It was bought by the Salesiani in 1892 and looked after by them ever since. In reality, the [...]
Porta Ferrata House
Of the original building, only the front side remains, and subject to careful restoration as it can be [...]
San Bartolomeo’s Chruch
The small village of San Bartolomeo is situated on the south side of the small lake of [...]
Savoy Castle
It was probably built by the Marquesses Arduinici of Turin (it was probably [...]
Senore House
This 14th century building is characterised by its "herring-bone" wall surfacing and by its portico with ogival arches [...]
St Cross’s Church
Santa Croce Oratory, built on the western side of Piazza Conte Rosso is depicted, although not correctly identified, [...]
St John’s Church
The priory of San Pietro, under the Provost of Moncenisio during the 14th century, strengthened its position by [...]
St Mary Mayor’s Church
It probably began as a parish church of the castle, under the control of the Provost of San [...]
St Mary square
This picturesque square is placed in Borgo Vecchio along the road to France and is surrounded by houses [...]
St Peter’s Church
Evidence of the age of the church, one time under the dependence of the Bishop of Turin, is [...]
Stronghold of Beato Umberto III of Savoy
This imposing late Middle Ages building, built with a central body and flanked by two wings going round [...]
The City Walls
Norberto Rosa wrote in his memoirs that Avigliana had strong boundary walls and several entrance gates. Of these, [...]
The Dynamite Nobel factory
The monumental remains of the most important explosives factory in the world in the '40s are east of [...]
The wells in Avigliana
Outside and inside the medieval walls, digged in the rocky rise on which the town was built, there [...]
Towers and walls
In the historical centre, remains of towers, walls and gates can be seen. Only apparently disorganised, in reality [...]
Town Hall and Civic Tower
The southern side of the Piazza Conte Rosso (Red Earl Square) is now taken over by the Town [...]
guided tour – historic centre of Avigliana
Ginger fest
9th celebration of Spi-Cgil of Avigliana
fabulous saturdays at the public libraryRepeating Event
Map
