Avigliana Travel Guide

 JLBG Says:  The three photos show the valley towards the eastThe first photo shows Avigliana and the autostrada from Susa to Turin.The second and the third photo show the landscape further east. Because of air pollution, Turin cannot be seen but should be on the grayish horizon! 

 JLBG Says:  The tall structure in the middle of the photo is the tower of the beautiful Alda. The legend says that when she was to be raped by villains, she jumped in the valley and was found safe. The legend says that later, she jumped again, but this time for money and killed herself. 

 JLBG Says:  The terrace overlooks the ruins of the old monastery that was built between the 12th and the 14th . This is also where was the old Ligures fortress and the Roman fortress.. It has a great view over the valleyThe third photo shows the elevator for disabled that is almost... 

 JLBG Says:  As the visit is single way, the way down for visitors is goes in the beginning through a narrow and steep staircase at another corner of the terrace. However, it should be outlined that an elevator has been recently installed for disabled. It is available on demand and after... 

 JLBG Says:  The church has a smaller entrance (way out for the visitors) that leads to a terrace that overhangs the valley. In a corner, after a few stairs, a small portal is named “monks portal”. This door leads to the monastery part, where lived the monks. It is divided in two parts... 

 JLBG Says:  In a small sober chapel with a trifoliate vault lays the recumbent figure of Adate Giugliemo. I have been unable to find who was Adate Giugliemo and as it was the end of the visit, our guide had left us to collect another group. 

 JLBG Says:  The church is not very large but remember that it stands on top of a peak and that most of it is held by a single pillar! However, it is impressive with its three naves? The Romanesque style is cleverly mixed with the Gothic stile. The lowest arches, between the central nave... 

 JLBG Says:  A Roman stele has been incorporated into the wall, left to the entrance. Amazingly, it has been fixed leaning as can be seen on the first photo. On the blank space that was at its bottom, now on the right, a Christian scene has been carved, standingOn the second photo, I... 

 JLBG Says:  The face of a monk with a cowl stands above the entrance, on the side. There used to be on the other side the head of a novice with short hair but in circumstances that I have not fully understood, it had been removed (stolen ?). 

 JLBG Says:  The small columns, on each side of the entrance have been added in the 19th . They have been recovered from another entrance. The columns further from the entrance (first photo) are topped by trifoiled arches. Each capital is carved with different kind of leaves. The columns... 

 JLBG Says:  The portal was built in the 12th in grayish bluish stone and is closed by a wooden door that was added in 1826 (first photo)The second photo is a close up on the top box. It shows a snake with a devil’s face, chained to a sword. The third photo shows the lower box with a... 

 JLBG Says:  The photo shows the platform in front of the entrance with the group listening to the guide. At this pint, he had a lot to tell. Fortunately, the weather, though cool (it was November 1st) was sunny. On the right, the stairs that we had just climbed. On the left (not seen),... 

 JLBG Says:  From Zodiac door (outside the photo, on the right), you turn right and find another flight of stairs that climb under the counterforts of the church. The counterforts were built in the 19th. Contrary to the Deads’ staircase, this flight of stairs is in the open. It leads to... 

 JLBG Says:  The first photo shows (right) a fishtailed Triton with an abundant hair symbolizes water. On the left, a Griffon holds its tail between its legs.The second photo shows on the right two eagles that symbolize the sky (or the heaven). On the left two women milk snakes, which... 

 JLBG Says:  Photo 1 gives a general view on the capitals on the right. It is carved with scenes from the Bible. In the middle, the zodiac with only 11 figures as Balance and Scorpio are represented in the same circle;Photo 2 is a close-up on Samson shaking the columns of the temple.... 

 JLBG Says:  The summit of the staircase is closed by the Zodiac door. Its carved marble stiles are most likely to come from Chapel Saint Etienne and that have been reused. It is framed by several columns with decorated capitals (next tip). 

 JLBG Says:  Inside the basement stands under an impressive vault, the main staircase, which gives access to the church from underneath, which is very unusual. It is very steep as its beginning is 20 meters below the level of the church. Its opening, on top is impressive too and looks... 

 JLBG Says:  The entrance into the sanctuary is closed by a gate and you have to pay 4 euros for the visit. Standing at the foot of the sanctuary, a modern statue of Saint Michael, carved by Paul de Doss-Moroder, was set on 24 September 2005 and brought here by helicopter. The door is... 

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