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Heritage in Danger: Susa Valley Archaeological Heritage Day returns on September 27th.

Aug. 10, 2026

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Susa

On Sunday, September 27, the 17th edition of Archaeological Heritage Day returns to the Susa Valley. This event is dedicated to the discovery and appreciation of the region's extraordinary archaeological, historical, and cultural riches, and this year's theme is "Heritage in Danger."

From 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm, fourteen municipalities in the Valley will open the doors of archaeological sites, monuments, museums, and memorial sites, offering visitors the opportunity to participate in free guided tours and guided tours. This year's theme will be developed in each location based on the characteristics of the sites and their historical periods.

The initiative is promoted as part of the "Susa Valley. Treasures of Alpine Art and Culture" promotion plan, in collaboration with the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Turin and with municipalities, institutions, associations, and cultural organizations in the area.

The program offers a particularly broad itinerary, from prehistory to the Roman era, from the Middle Ages to the remains of industrial archaeology.

In Almese, visitors can visit the Roman Villa, the most important Roman-era suburban residential complex in Piedmont, and the Tower and Ricetto of San Mauro. The villa, used between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, covered approximately 5,000 square meters, while the Ricetto preserves the tower, part of the crenellated walls, and the moat. Guided tours are planned, and an art exhibition will also be held at the Ricetto.

In Avigliana, the focus will be on the Castle and its surrounding walls, as well as the Priory and the Church of San Bartolomeo. The program includes guided tours led by archaeologists, and a theatrical tour of the Castle with actors from the Borgo Vecchio Historical Group.

In Bussoleno, you can discover the Varesio Mill and Casa Aschieri, while in Caselette, the Roman Villa will be open to the public. This approximately 3,000-square-meter building, built in the Augustan era and used for agriculture, livestock farming, and artisanal production, spans approximately 3,000 square meters.

In Chianocco, you can visit the Castle, featuring the Ancient Crafts exhibition, the Chapel of Sant'Ippolito, the Casaforte, and the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul. An archaeological walk through the sites is also planned at 4:00 PM.

Condove will offer the Castle of Conte Verde, the Church of San Rocco, and the Church of San Pietro. Guided tours are available at the Castle, while the Chapel of San Rocco will host Alfredo Billetto's exhibition "Geometries of Color between Dream and Matter."

In Gravere, you can visit the Rugèt Mine, an ancient silver-bearing galena mine exploited repeatedly from the Middle Ages to the 19th century and now also a popular tourist and cultural attraction.

In Novalesa, the Abbey of Saints Peter and Andrew and the Archaeological Museum will open, housing numerous artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations conducted as part of the complex's restoration.

In Salbertrand, the tour will include the Colombano Romean Ecomuseum, the Martinet Water Mill, and the Hotel Dieu. The mill represents an important testimony to pre-industrial archaeology, while medieval artifacts have been discovered in the ancient pilgrim shelter along the Via Francigena.

In San Giorio, the focus will be on the cup-marked rocks near the Count's Chapel, while in Sant'Ambrogio di Torino, it will be possible to visit the Municipal Tower, the Parish Church of San Giovanni Vincenzo, and the Bell Tower.

The program in Susa is particularly rich, with the Castle and the city's historical and archaeological sites open to the public. Guided tours of the archaeological sites are scheduled at 10:30 am and 11:30 am, and visits to the Castle are scheduled at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. At 3:00 pm, the Arena will also host "Dies in Arena," a reenactment of gladiatorial combat.

In Vaie, the Prehistory Laboratory Museum will be open all day. At 3:30 pm, a walk will begin at the Baità archaeological site, accompanied by archaeologists, actors, and reenactors, focusing on the value of archaeological remains and their protection. The walk lasts approximately an hour and a half and requires reservations.

Finally, in Villar Focchiardo, the Certosa di Montebenedetto, one of the oldest Carthusian settlements in Piedmont, will be open to visitors with guides dedicated to the historical and archaeological knowledge of the site. Reservations are also required.

The Day thus offers the opportunity to discover a heritage that is often hidden or little-known, yet fundamental to understanding the history of the Susa Valley: Roman villas, castles, fortifications, churches, mines, mills, museums, and testimonies of prehistory become, for one day, stops on a single, vast cultural journey throughout the area.

All openings are scheduled for Sunday, September 27, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm. For some