Susa lies just where the plains of Pianura Padana give way to the Alps, an hour or so west of Turin, and, for being a relatively small center, it packs a lot in. Romans built here when the passes mattered for trade and troops, and the medieval city grew around what they left; above it all is Rocciamelone, a high, steep pyramid of a mountain with a small sanctuary on the summit. Susa’s scale is very visitor-friendly: a town you can cross on foot without rushing, with enough detail to fill a day and reasons to stay the night.
To newcomers, the Roman layer is the easiest to spot: the Arch of Augustus, which stands just outside the historic core of the town, was built to mark peace between Emperor Augustus and Marcus Julius Cottius, the Alpine ruler who governed these valleys. From the arch, it’s a short walk to the remains of the amphitheater and to stretches of the old aqueduct, both of which are located well in view of houses, stores, and the natural ebb and flow of daily life.
