Romanesque art and the Via Francigena in the Turin area

In downtown Turin, you can find the belltower of the Church of Sant’Andrea (11th century), built by Guarino Guarini in 1678 on Sant’Andrea’s Romanesque structure, next to the Sanctuary of the Consolata. Outside of the city, along the stretch of the Via Francigena that crosses the Susa Valley, you will find the Abbey of Sant’Antonio di Ranverso in Buttigliera Alta (12th century) with its characteristic friezes in cotto tiles; the Benedictine Abbey of San Pietro di Novalesa (8th century) with its Museum; and the complex of the Abbey of San Michele della Chiusa, also known as Sacra di San Michele (10th century), a symbol of Piedmont on the top of Mont Pirchiriano. In Piobesi Torinese, the Parish church di San Giovanni ai Campi (10th century) is one of the most exquisite examples of sacred architecture in the Turin area. In Susa, the Cathedral of San Giusto dates back to 1027, while the Church of San Rocco in Condove was founded in the 11th century. In the Canavese area, worth mentioning are the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Ivrea (10th – 11th century) with the Baptistery and the Parish church of San Lorenzo (7th century) in the village of Settimo Vittone. In San Benigno Canavese, the guided itinerary to visit the Abbey of Fruttuaria is entitled “Mille Anni di Storia” (a hundred years of history). The abbey is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mother of God, Saint Benigno and all Saints. It was founded by Guglielmo da Volpiano, who was also its first Benedictine abbot, on the feud of his father in 1003.