Sacra di San Michele, located on Mount Pirchiriano,near Turin, dominates the Val di Susa and is one of the most fascinating symbols of Piemonte. This thousand-year-old monument is not only an icon of the Turin landscape, but is also a focal point of an ancient pilgrimage route dedicated to the Archangel Michael, which connects various places of worship in Europe.
The Origins and History of the Sacra di San Michele.
According to tradition, the monastic complex was built between 983 and 987 at the behest of the nobleman Ugo di Montboissier, a rich French lord eager to atone for his sins. The strategic position, on a steep mountain, allowed the Sacra to control the Via Francigena, one of the main routes for pilgrims heading to Rome.
During the Middle Ages, the Sacra was entrusted to the Benedictine monks, who expanded it, making it an important religious and cultural center.
In 1994, the Sacra di San Michele was recognized as a "symbolic monument of Piemonte", consolidating its role as a spiritual and tourist attraction.
The sword of St. Michael.
The mysterious sacred line dedicated to the Archangel Michael (also called the Sword of St. Michael).
An alignment of places of worship that runs from Ireland to Israel.
This imaginary axis includes:
- Skellig Michael (Ireland) A monastery built on a rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
- St. Michael's Mount (UK) An island-tower similar to Mont-Saint-Michel.
- Mont-Saint-Michel (France) The most famous sanctuary dedicated to St. Michael, located on an islet in Normandy.
- Sacra di San Michele (Italy).
- Sanctuary of St. Michael in Puglia
- The Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel in Panormitis (Greece)
- Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
One of the most evocative elements of the sacred is the Stairway of the Dead, a steep stone staircase that was once flanked by tombs of monks. This solemn and austere path leads to the heart of the sanctuary and seems to want to remind us of the transience of life, inviting us to reflect.
Once at the top of the staircase, you find yourself in front of the Zodiac Gate, a Romanesque masterpiece decorated with refined bas-reliefs depicting the signs of the zodiac. This gate represents the symbolic passage between the earthly and spiritual worlds, an invitation to abandon earthly worries to rise towards the sacred.
Inside, among imposing columns and majestic vaults, the Zodiac Column stands out, a unique architectural element that continues the symbolism of the gate, suggesting a link between cosmic time and the sacredness of the building.
Continuing the visit, you can admire the Chiesa Nuova, with its solemn and mystical atmosphere, enriched by frescoes and sculptures that tell stories of faith and devotion. The route finally leads to the Sepolcro dei Monaci, an evocative crypt where silence and darkness envelop visitors in an atmosphere of meditation and prayer.
Every corner of the Sacra di San Michele speaks of centuries of history, pilgrimages and faith. It is a place that invites you to stop, to breathe in the sense of the sacred and to let yourself be enveloped by the charm of an architecture that defies time and stands majestically between heaven and earth.
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