Excursion to the Monastery - Abbey of St. Michael - Turin

Monastery - Abbey of St. Michael:

The Sacra of St. Archangel Michael is a unique monument of national importance, keeping in its legends reminders of ancient pagan cults of the Celts, examples of religious architecture of the Romanesque style and elements of grandiose construction, available already in the XII century.

The architectural design of the former Abbey of St. Archangel Michael rests on the rocky peak of Mount Pirkirliano (height 962 meters), located at the beginning of the Susa Valley, along which since ancient times the pilgrims’ road to the Holy Lands passed.

The Benedictine monastery was preceded by three small churches. And earlier it is assumed that this place at the beginning of our era stood a Roman Christian chapel, serving the religious needs of the Roman legions, moving north to conquer the Gauls.

The architectural complex of the former abbey is one of the largest among European religious monuments.

The main portal opens the entrance to a high and steep staircase (Staircase of the Dead), symbolizing the spiritual and physical effort required to climb the church. The staircase got its name due to the fact that along it there are tombs of monks and benefactors of the monastery.

The steep ascent of the Staircase of the Dead ends with the Gate of the Zodiacs, the most valuable artwork of the Middle Ages, preserved to our time.

The church building with its altar part rests on the foundation of the facade built in the XII century, the space of the naves rests on the rocky top of the mountain. The church contains examples of architectural solutions and sculptures of the Romanesque-Gothic periods. The opening of the absids is framed by sculptures of the Virgin Mary and St. Archangel Gabriel.

In the monastery complex the tower of beautiful Alda is preserved. The legend tells of a beautiful girl who jumped from a high cliff twice, but was saved only once by angels.

The cult of St. Archangel Michael is one of the oldest cults in Europe.

By a surprising coincidence, the Sacred Archangel Michael is exactly in the middle between two other holy places dedicated to this cult: Monte San Angelo in Puglia (Italy) and Mont Saint Michel in Normandy (France).