L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano S u r r o u n d e d b y mountains to the n o r t h a n d w e s t , Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region, offers visitors access to hiking and skiing or just enjoying nature through its u r b a n p a r k s a n d w i l d l i f e areas. But for those looking to experience the mountains in a new way, the region offers two outstanding historic sites: the National Museum of t h e M o u n t a i n a n d t h e S a c r a d i S a n M i c h e l e . Both provide stunning hilltop vistas, valuable historical per- spectives and a fascinating look at Italy's past. An easy walk just north of the Po River in the center of Turin, the National Muse- um of the Mountain Duca degli Abruzzi is located on Monte dei Cappuccini. The site was a former Capuchin monastery that was turned over to the city of Turin in 1871. At that time, members of the newly formed Italian Alpine Club determined the hilltop location would be an ideal place for an observatory. T h e s t a t i o n w a s i n s t a l l e d three years later and manned by Alpine Club members. The museum got its start a f e w d e c a d e s l a t e r i n 1 9 0 1 when Prince Luigi of Savoy, Duke of the Abruzzi, donated items and equipment from his 1899 expedition to the North Pole. Setting sail in a ship called the Polar Star, the prince and his team success- fully explored farther north t h a n a n y o n e e l s e t o d a t e , although they never actually made it to the pole. From this modest begin- ning, the museum's collection grew. Today, the Museum of t h e M o u n t a i n o f f e r s t w o floors of permanent exhibits as well as space for temporary displays that record the histo- ry of mountaineering and exploration. Exhibits delve into such topics as skiing and winter sports, sustainable development, tourism, and w i n t e r m o u n t a i n e e r i n g . There is also a section devot- ed to the founding of the Ital- ian Alpine Club. The temporary exhibit pro- gram allows museum staff to explore architecture, art and science as they relate to the mountains. Recently, there was an exhibit on Walter Bonatti, an Italian moun- taineer-turned photographer and reporter. Born in 1930 in Bergamo, Bonatti climbed many of the tallest peaks in the Alps, including the Mat- t e r h o r n w h i c h h e s c a l e d when he was just 19. At the age of 35, he gave u p m o u n t a i n e e r i n g a n d turned his attention to jour- n a l i s m a n d p h o t o g r a p h y . Bonatti traveled the world, a u t h o r e d m a n y b o o k s o n mountaineering, and through both his words and photos, recorded some of the planet's most remote locations. The museum is the repository of the Walter Bonatti archives, a rich trove of correspondence, n o t e s , m a n u s c r i p t s , a n d some 110,000 photographs that the explorer, who died in 2011, left behind. A companion exhibit, Wal- ter Bonatti: The Rediscov- e r e d C o m i c s , d i s p l a y s a whimsical selection of illus- trations, sketches and film scripts by comic book artists inspired by the exploits of Bonatti and others. When visiting the National Museum of the Mountain, don't miss its rooftop deck with breathtaking views of the city skyline and the sur- rounding Alpine region. It's easy to see why the location was chosen as a functioning observatory some 125 years ago. More stunning views are available on a visit to the Sacra di San Michele , perched more than 3,000 feet above sea level. Located 45 minutes west of Turin, the S a c r a i s o n e o f E u r o p e ' s largest architectural and reli- gious complexes built during the Romanesque era. The monastery, construct- ed on the site of smaller pre- existing chapels, dates back t o t h e l a t e 9 0 0 s . N o w i n ruins, caused by earthquakes, looting and fires over the centuries, at one time the s t r u c t u r e a c c o m m o d a t e d m o r e t h a n 6 0 m o n k s . Enough of the original build- ing exists, though, so that it's easy to envision the impact the Sacra must have made on pilgrims viewing it from the valley below. If you visit the Sacra, be prepared for some serious u p h i l l w a l k i n g . F r o m t h e parking lot, you'll traipse up a s t e e p r o a d w a y t o t h e entrance of the abbey. Once i n s i d e t h e h i s t o r i c s i t e , another climb awaits, this time up several steep stone s t a i r c a s e s t o r e a c h t h e church. Known as the Stair- case of the Dead, it was built over existing burial places for the monks. At the top of the staircase, look for the Door of the Zodi- ac. Carved in the early 12 th century, the door displays the signs of the zodiac and 16 constellations. There are also images of flowers, animals and human figures meant to symbolize the harmony of creation. Other imagery rep- resents biblical subjects such as Cain and Abel, and Sam- son and Delilah. The small gem of a church, with its frescoes, sculpture and paintings, was partly built on the foundations of older chapels and partly on the mountaintop itself. Its main doors were carved of walnut two centuries ago, s h o w i n g a n a r m e d S a i n t Michael the Archangel com- b a t t i n g t h e d e v i l , w h o i s depicted in the shape of a snake with a human face. Inside the church along one wall is a large stone sar- c o p h a g u s c o n t a i n i n g t h e remains of members of the S a v o y f a m i l y t r a n s f e r r e d from Turin's cathedral to the Sacra in 1836. There is also a small gift shop and a café at the site. The Sacra and its moun- taintop location exude spiri- tuality, solitude and other- worldliness. Expect magical moments to happen at any t i m e . D u r i n g o u r v i s i t , a group of religious brothers, who themselves were on a t o u r , g a v e a n i m p r o m p t u p e r f o r m a n c e , f i l l i n g t h e vaulted church with ethereal sound. It was a moment to be treasured and will be long remembered. T w o m o u n t a i n t o p s i t e s i n a n d around Turin offer new perspectives RITA CIPALLA Turin and the Alps at sunrise (Photo: Fabio Lamanna/Dreamstime) The beautiful and majestic Sacra di San Michele (Photo: Mario Forcherio/Dreamstime) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS

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