Avigliana is a town and comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Piedmont region or Italy, with 12,129 inhabitants as of 1 January 2023. It lies about 25 km west of Turin in the Susa valley, on the motorway going from Turin to Modane, 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 nearby in 750. Later Avigliana depended on the Abbey of Novalesa, and subsequently, 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 ending with the destruction of the castle.

Main sights

Transportation

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

Twin towns