Holiday apartment in Meana di Susa: trails, chapels and mountain culture

Holiday apartment in Meana di Susa between hamlet trails and high-altitude paths

The paths between Meana’s hamlets run along lanes and pleasant, shady roads. They allow visitors to explore the villages and discover traces of a bygone way of life in the landscape, architecture and local traditions. From Borgata Assiere, a steep path leads to the Chapel of San Michele. It stands on a rocky spur and on a hilltop with expansive panoramic views. A local walking trail runs along the Forra delle Combe.

The Sentiero dei Franchi was once a mule track, but is now difficult to walk. It passes several hamlets, descends from the Assiere area and joins the road to Colle delle Finestre. For hiking enthusiasts and experienced hikers, there are also high-altitude excursions, for example to Assietta and Colle delle Finestre.

Mountain biking and old mule tracks

Percorso 3V is a moderately difficult mountain-bike route through mountainous terrain and passes through several municipalities, including Meana di Susa. After a section through chestnut woods, it reaches Borgata Assiere. An old mule track to Colle delle Finestre begins at Borgata Traverse and runs via Lengaplusa.

Churches, towers and local traditions

The Torre delle Combe is an old tower with a square plan and a military appearance; it probably served more as a signal tower than as part of a defensive system. It is located in Suffis-Combe, a hamlet of Campo del Carro. The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta dates back to the 11th century, was largely rebuilt in the 18th century and preserves part of its Romanesque bell tower. In Borgata Sarette stands an old, presumably sacred building with a still-visible bifora made of worked stone.

The remains of the castle of the Ripa di Meana, the former feudal lords of the area, are located in the hamlet of Suffis. The Casaforte di Meana is a sturdy building with a square plan that rises over three levels and is crowned by a battlemented walkway. Local legends about the Sursiere and the Sursia, the witches and sorcerers of times past, are associated with the old Ponte delle streghe.

San Costanzo and getting there

The nearby Chapel of San Costanzo stands on a hill in the Susa area beside the road from Bassa Meana and is dedicated to Meana’s patron saint. It belongs to the Diocese of Susa’s “Chiese a porte aperte” visiting network. With advance booking, the participating sites can be accessed year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with automated opening and interpretation. The Feast of San Costanzo takes place on the Sunday closest to September 18 and includes a procession and the traditional dance of the “branc”.

Meana di Susa has a railway station on the Torino–Modane line. The A32 Torino–Bardonecchia motorway can be reached via the Susa Est exit, 4 km away; a connection to the SS24 del Monginevro state road runs via a turn-off onto provincial road 172.

Further destinations for regional orientation: Candiolo, Villar Perosa, Montanaro, Cumiana, Balme, Bricherasio, Villareggia and Cavour.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.