{"id":32938,"date":"2021-11-01T13:33:44","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T12:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/?post_type=destination&p=32938"},"modified":"2026-10-07T22:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:02:29","slug":"saint-michaels-abbey-la-clusa","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/www.bellitalie.org\/en\/destination\/piedmont\/susa-valley\/saint-michaels-abbey-la-clusa\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint Michael’s Abbey, La Clusa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"saint-michael-s-abbey-la-clusa_5078\"<\/a>One of the most beautiful sites in the region, about 30 kilometres from Turin, the Saint Michael’s Abbey, La Clusa<\/strong> (Sacra di San Michele<\/em> in Italian) was built on a rocky peak nearly 1000m high overlooking the valley near Mount Pirchiriano<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

History and presentation of the site<\/h2>\n

Built from the 11th century onwards, the site had already been dedicated to the worship of Saint Michael since the 5th century, and was even linked earlier to legends that mention it as one of the most powerful sources of white magic.
This Benedictine monastery became one of the largest religious complexes in the region, and was even very powerful in the Christian world for several centuries, the seat of numerous communities scattered as far as France and Spain. After being pillaged, it was abandoned in 1662.<\/p>\n

Its walls preserve a thousand marvels, including rich architecture, and multiple decorations such as the figures sculpted on the capitals or remarkable frescoes.
Historically it is reached by the Staircase of the Dead, and mule tracks cross the beech and chestnut woods.
From the top of the hill the vast view extends over the Po plain and the Dora valley.<\/p>\n

Architecture<\/h2>\n
\"frescoes-sacra-di-san-michele_5133\"<\/a>

Predica dei morti (15th-16th century)<\/p><\/div>\n

Founded on the rock, one enters the sanctuary by the Staircase of the Dead<\/em> (Scalone dei Morti in Italian) flanked by arches with niches and tombs that, until recently, still held visible monks’ skeletons. Its 243 steps lead to the Porta dello Zodiaco <\/em>(Gate of the Zodiac in English), a masterpiece of the 12th century. Further on, the Romanesque portal of grey and green stone from the early 11th century leads to the church. The church combines elements of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. It preserves several beautiful frescoes, including on the left wall a large Annunciation<\/em> (by Secondo del Bosco da Poirino<\/strong>, 1505), or in the former choir a triptych by Defendente Ferrari<\/strong>.
The complex includes the ruins of the Monastero Nuovo, a monastery from the 12th-15th centuries, which originally had five storeys, and the Tower of the beautiful Alda<\/em> and an octagonal chapel.<\/p>\n

Gallery<\/h2>\n\n\t\t