Rivoli's Castle & Sacra di San Michele

The Baroque castle of Rivoli now houses a fascinating museum of contemporary art. The building was begun in the 17th century, then redesigned but never finished by Juvarra in the 18th century; it was finally converted into a museum in the late 20th century by the minimalist Turin architect Andrea Bruno. On display are changing international exhibitions and a permanent collection of 20th -century Italian art. The castle of Rivoli can be visited from Thursday to Sunday.

A forbidding fortified abbey anchored atop a rocky hill, the Sacra di San Michele. To reach the church, you must climb 150 steps, past 12th-century sculptures, from the Porta dello Zodiaco, a splendid Romanesque doorway decorated with the signs of the zodiac. On the left side of the interior are 16th-century frescoes representing New Testaments themes; on the right are depictions of the founding of the church. Note that some sections of the abbey are open only on weekends and, when particularly crowded, visit may be limited to hour-long tours. Weather permitting, the views from the walls and terraces surrounding the church are breathtaking. If the weather is snowy you cannot reach the Sacra di San Michele , the tour guide will suggest an alternative itinerary.