Discover Condove: Frescoes, Rock Art and Alpine History

Condove brings together religious buildings, archaeological traces and places of regional remembrance with an alpine pilgrimage destination. If you are looking for a hotel in Condove, these different highlights can help you plan your trip around the themes that interest you most.

Churches and Frescoes

The Chiesa di San Rocco is in the centre of Condove and is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. Excavations uncovered fragments of frescoes on the triumphal arch and in the old apse. Experts consider them possibly the oldest surviving frescoes in the Val di Susa. This brings the building’s history and its paintings into focus as two distinct aspects of a visit. The church is accessible by car, and there is public parking beside the building. Check the parking situation before your visit, as parking options may change.

The Cappella di San Bernardo reflects a different period: it has a 15th-century fresco cycle, while a Gothic dedication dates the structure to 1430. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Saturnino offers another architectural point of interest. Built in the 18th century, it is a Baroque church that remains unchanged, based on a design by the architect Giuseppe Giacinto Morari.

Rock Art and Castello del Conte Verde

At the Incisioni Rupestri in Località Buia, a site features rock carvings on a boulder measuring 375 × 220 × 90 cm. These dimensions give a tangible sense of the object described. Another named site is near Siliodo–Camporossetto, where the rock carvings are on a serpentinite boulder known as the “Roccia degli Asterischi.”

The ruins of Castello del Conte Verde stand on a rise overlooking the valley entrance between Caprie and Condove. They can be reached from the SS24 state road; a short walk uphill leads from a car park a few metres away. Check access conditions before your visit. The castle is also a place of historical significance: in the 13th century, it was the centre of a monastic castellany belonging to San Giusto di Susa, as well as the seat of a court and a prison.

Museums and Remembrance

The Museo Etnografico “La Ghindana” in Mocchie displays a collection of material culture representing a mountain community from this area. The museum specialises in dairy farming and alpine pasture farming. The region’s long mining history can be explored separately: mining took place in the Gravio Valley from the 14th to the 19th century.

The Museo Valsusino della Resistenza is housed in the historic premises of the former Officine Moncenisio. Its library and media library preserve original mementos, historical finds and photographic records from the wartime period and the time immediately after the arrival of the Allied troops. Group tours are organised by prior reservation, and educational programmes for schools are also available. Check the reservation procedure and availability in advance.

Mocchie and the Alpine Sanctuary

The 14th-century Campanile Romanico stands in the cemetery of Mocchie. The tower leans slightly because the ground beneath it has subsided. It is easy to reach from the provincial road; check access conditions before setting out.

The Santuario Madonna degli Angeli offers a very different experience: it is an alpine sanctuary at an altitude of 1,880 metres on the Colle del Colombardo. It is a pilgrimage destination, especially on the feast of the Madonna. For travellers interested in both religious buildings and religious traditions, the site combines a specific high-altitude setting with a special feast day.

The Fiera della Toma is part of the “GustoValsusa” food and wine event series. It showcases local products, wines, honey, artisan bread, baked goods and confectionery. Check the latest dates and exhibitors before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Pont Canavese, Caprie, Airali, Chiomonte, Cebrosa, San Mauro Torinese, Monfol, Torre Pellice

For the main travel overview: Turin.