Susa: Roman Heritage and Culture

Susa brings together Roman structures, ecclesiastical art and several routes in the Val di Susa. When planning your stay, you can consider these as different areas of interest: the Cattedrale di San Giusto and the Arco di Augusto offer a glimpse into Roman architectural history, the Museo Diocesano di Arte Sacra represents sacred art, and the Castello della Contessa Adelaide offers a distinct setting for a visit. The archaeological walk and the Via Francigena also offer different points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel in Susa, these interests can help structure your travel plans.

Roman Structures in Susa

The Cattedrale di San Giusto was founded in 1027. One of the Roman gate towers of the Porta Savoia, also known as the Porta del Paradiso, is incorporated into the left corner of its façade. The Porta Savoia, also called the Porta del Paradiso, is the only surviving gate in Susa’s Roman city walls. These two structures show different connections to the history of the Roman city: in the cathedral, a gate tower forms part of the façade, while the Porta Savoia stands out as a surviving city gate.

The Arco di Augusto is one of the four best-preserved Roman arches in Italy. It can be reached via the paved Via dell'Impero Romano. This structure therefore combines its classification among the Roman arches with a specifically named access route. The cathedral, gate and arch offer different architectural points of reference for exploring Susa’s Roman history.

Cathedral and Museum

The entrance to the Cattedrale di San Giusto is accessible via a ramp for visitors with reduced mobility. This is a practical point of reference when planning a visit. The Museo Diocesano di Arte Sacra in Susa is the central seat of the diocesan museum system. These represent two distinct cultural perspectives: the cathedral as a building with its own foundation history, and the museum, with its central role in the diocesan system. For a stay focused on sacred art, these points of interest complement the Roman structures with another area of focus.

Visiting the Castello della Contessa Adelaide

You should allow an average of one to two hours to visit the Castello della Contessa Adelaide. As this is an average duration, it serves as a guide for planning your schedule. Guided tours are available for school groups and must be booked in advance. If you are accompanying a school group, making this advance booking is therefore one of the steps involved in planning a visit to the castle.

Archaeological Route and Via Francigena

The archaeological walk in Susa preserves the most significant heritage of Roman and Celtic remains in the Val di Susa area. Susa is also the central hub of the archaeological route. Its Roman-Celtic heritage gives this route its archaeological focus. The Via Francigena offers a different experience: it leads from the Colle del Moncenisio to Susa. These two details offer different starting points for planning your trip—either the archaeological remains in the Val di Susa or the route connecting the Colle del Moncenisio to Susa. You can decide whether to focus your stay more on structures and archaeological heritage or on this route.

Discover more destinations: Caluso, Claviere, Bibiana, Avigliana, Rivalba, Gravere, Bobbio Pellice, Pino Torinese.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.