Basilica of Superga

Filippo Juvarra's Baroque basilica crowns a hill 670 metres above the city to the east, dominating the skyline of Turin from almost every angle. The Savoys built it as a thanks-offering for the lifting of the French siege of 1706 — the king and the future architect of the Savoy palaces watched the battle from this hilltop and made the vow on the spot.

Take the funicular from Sassi, opened in 1884 and one of the oldest in Europe still running on its original line, up through chestnut woods to the church. The interior is fine but the real reasons to come are the panorama over Turin to the Alps, the royal Savoy mausoleum tucked beneath the choir, and a quiet visit to the football memorial round the back.

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A story
On 4 May 1949 the plane carrying the entire Grande Torino football team home from a friendly in Lisbon crashed into the rear wall of the basilica in heavy fog. All thirty-one on board died, wiping out the team that had won five consecutive league titles. A simple memorial plaque on the back of the basilica still draws fans every anniversary.