Avigliana

Avigliana is a town and comune (municipality) in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, with c. 11,000 inhabitants, located about 25 km west of Turin. Avigliana lies in the Susa valley, on the highway going from Turin to Frejus (France).

It is best known for two maar lakes, Lago Grande and Lago Piccolo. Also nearby is the massive Sacra di San Michele.

History
In 574 the Lombard King Cleph built a castle here. According to some sources, the battle between the Franks of Pippin the Younger and the Lombards of Aistulf occurred in the nearby in 750. Later Avigliana depended from the Abbey of Novalesa. Later it was a possession of the House of Savoy.

Avigliana was captured by Emperor Henry VI in 1187, but later it was acquired by Thomas I of Savoy. In 1536, in the course of the Italian Wars, it was again stormed by French troops. French attacks repeated in 1630 and 1690, the latter with the destruction of the castle.

Main sights

 * Ruins of the castle, destroyed in the 17th century by the French.
 * Church of San Giovanni, with several works by Defendente Ferrari.
 * the Romanesque church of San Pietro.
 * Natural Park of the Lakes of Avigliana.

Transportation
Avigliana has two gates on the A32 Bardonecchia-Turin motorway. It has also a station on the Turin-Modane railroad

Twin towns

 * 🇫🇷 Tresserve, France