Parco Naturale della Collina Torinese

The landscape of Collina Torinese is dominated by the presence of the monumental group of Superga Basilica, a masterpiece of the Baroque architecture by the architect Filippo Juvarra from Messina. The Basilica was built during the first half of the 18th century. Moreover, the landscape is characterized by an interesting system of villas-farmhouses which developed between the 16th and the 19th centuries and by ancient settlements called "Tetti", which have been recovered and restructured. An example is represented by Tetti Ronchi, an ancient complex situated in an area adjacent to the Park characterized by the presence of a central well and by a common bakery. Its name derives from the labor class called "roncatori", that is the workers who in the past cleaned the soils of the hill bound to the vineyard or chestnuts tree cultivation from woodlands and shrubs.

Besides the Basilica, which represents a destination both for pilgrimage and tourism and offers during the whole year the visit to its charming cloister and garden, it is also possible to visit the Royal Graves of the Savoia Family situated in the basements of the building. The route gives the possibility to admire mausolea and monumental sculptures by illustrious artists from Piedmont, Liguria, and Tuscany, working in the 18th and 19th century.

The Panoramic Road of the Hills (Strada Panoramica dei Colli), going throughout the Park, can be reached by taking the road of "Pino vecchio" from Pino Torinese, or by taking the road to Baldissero from Superga. Along it you can find equipped and parking areas, and the meeting point of some paths providing an interesting opportunity to carry out a walk on foot or by bike. Since it can be gone through by car, it represents one of the busiest places of the protected area, with a concentration of visitors above all during the weekend and the holidays.

When the sky is clear, you can enjoy from the square of the Basilica di Superga the wonderful view over the Alpine chain and the town of Turin. A charming panorama which you can also enjoy from the dome of the Basilica, which has been opened after almost fifty years of inaccessibility. You enter from the base of the dome tambour through a door of the central hall of the Basilica. The 137-step ladder leads you to the stone balcony situated at 672 meters of height.

The Rack Tramway line develops for 3,100 meters from the station of Sassi (in Turin in piazza Modena, at 225m a.s.l.) and the station of Superga (at 650m a.s.l.). The total difference in height of 425 meters is overcome with an average gradient of 13.5% with peaks of 21% in the stretch between Pian Gambino and Superga. The station of Sassi has been restored and enlarged by respecting the original architectural context. Nowadays it houses a permanent exhibition about the history of the public transport of Turin and equipped areas for stops. The station of Superga is entirely new and it offers from the terrace an unequaled view of Turin and of the Alpine chain.
The cars are the original ones, born in 1934 and completely restored. A more than a hundred year tradition beginning on 26th April 1884 with the first run of the tramway continues. It had been built with the "Agudio" system: the train moved thanks to gears set going by a steel rope running parallel to the track, on pulleys along the route, and towed by a steam engine in the station. The line was transformed in 1934 in electric tramway with central rack traction. The current changes have enhanced the line from a tourist and a historical-cultural point of view, and transformed it into an alternative means of transport connecting the town of Turin with the hill of Superga. Today's timetables.

San Genisio Parish Church, situated in the surroundings of Vaj woodland, is worth a visit: it gave birth to the local settlement, and it is the oldest building in the area.