What is Susa known for?

Capital of the Alpes Cottiae under Cottius and Augustus, with the Arch of 9 to 8 BC and a small amphitheatre still standing in the centre. Cathedral founded 1029 as a Benedictine abbey for the saint's relics, with a 51-meter Romanesque campanile crowned in Gothic terracotta spires. Town at the foot of the Cottian Alps and the historic ascent to the Moncenisio and Montgenèvre passes between Italy and France.

Susa is a comune in the province of Torino, Piedmont region of Italy, about 55 kilometers from Torino.

Piedmont · Torino

Susa

The Roman gateway to the Cottian Alps at 503 meters, capital of the Alpes Cottiae and seat of the Cozii under Augustus and Cottius.

503m

Elevation

55 km / 34 mi

Nearest hub (Torino)

5,911

Population

Apr–Oct

Best time to visit

Recognised as

Why come

Susa sits at 503 meters at the foot of the Cottian Alps, fifty kilometers west of Torino on the road that climbs to the Moncenisio and Montgenèvre passes. Ligurians and Celts settled here around 500 BC. The site emerged as the capital of the kingdom of the Cozii under Marcus Julius Cottius, son of King Donnus, who allied with Rome and was confirmed as Roman prefect of the new province of Alpes Cottiae, with Segusio (modern Susa) as its capital. The Arch of Augustus, built between 9 and 8 BC, records the alliance and is one of the best-preserved Roman triumphal arches in northern Italy at over 13 meters tall. The Cattedrale di San Giusto was founded in 1029 as the church of a Benedictine abbey to house the relics of the saint, with a 51-meter Romanesque campanile crowned in the late 1480s with terracotta Gothic spires by Cardinal d'Estouteville. The Castello della Contessa Adelaide rises beside the cathedral, and the Via Francigena passes through the town on its descent from the Moncenisio.

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Gallery

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Known for

Arco di Augusto
Roman triumphal arch built 9 to 8 BC for the alliance between Augustus and Cottius, over 13 meters tall in white marble, one of the best preserved in north Italy.
Cattedrale di San Giusto
Cathedral founded 1029 by Olderico Manfredi as the church of a Benedictine abbey, with a 51-meter Romanesque campanile and Gothic terracotta spires of 1480s.
Castello della Contessa Adelaide
Castle built into a Roman gate on the line of the old walls, transformed into a noble residence with medieval towers and Renaissance windows.
Anfiteatro romano
Remains of the small Roman amphitheatre of Segusio, just outside the historic core, capable of seating around 4,000 spectators.
Via Francigena - tappa di Susa
Susa is the first major stop in Italy on the southern descent of the Francigena from the Moncenisio pass towards the Po valley.

When to visit

Best months · Apr–Oct

Best
Hot or crowded
Quiet
Mostly closed

April through June is the green window in the Susa valley: the Cottian Alps with snow still on the upper slopes, mild evenings at 503 meters, and the Roman monuments lit clearly in the long light. July and August are warm but cooler than the Po plain; the Arch and the Cattedrale draw most of the year's visitors and the festival programme runs through summer. September and October are the second peak, with crisp air and the chestnut woods turning above the town. November through March is alpine in register: cold, often clear, occasionally heavy with snow on the higher passes. The cathedral campanile in winter snow is the town's recurring postcard.