Sacra di San Michele Guided Tour with Abbey Climb

The Sacra di San Michele guided tour is a three-hour outing to one of Piedmont's best-known landmarks, an abbey perched on the summit of Mount Pirchiriano. Expect a climb, a lot of history and a view at the top.

The ascent begins at the Porta dello Zodiaco, a Romanesque doorway carved with zodiac signs and 12th-century sculptures. From there the guide leads you up 150 steps, telling the story of how the site became a spiritual landmark over the centuries.

Inside, the two sides of the abbey are quite different:

• the left wing has 16th-century frescoes of scenes from the New Testament
• the right side shows the foundation of the church

At the top, the panorama over the Susa Valley is the reward for the effort. A small snack is included. Entrance tickets are not, so plan for them separately. The programme is flexible, with the guide suggesting what to see and you deciding how to spend the time. When snow or weather makes the climb unsafe, the group visits other cultural or historic places in the area instead. It suits people who like architecture, history and mountain landscapes, though the route is not recommended for pregnant women.