Hi -
We loved the Alpe di Siusi hike and stayed in Ortisei on a prior Italy trip.
Can we do something this easy from Torino? We would love to see the peaks in Monviso and stay in a rifugio. We are traveling with a 6 year old and we're not hardy hikers, just looking for a stopover with easy point-to-point connections.
Traveling by TRAIN or local transit, no car.
Thanks if you have a suggestion!
J
Avigliana. Beautiful mountain town 20 minutes west of Torino. Gorgeous town, but best is that above the town is Piedmont's symbol - Sacra San Michele - a 1000 year old abbey that is on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. The Abbey and its perch are spectacular. Avigliana has two small lakes and a nature preserve. The commuter rail line has frequent trains to Porta Nuova in Torino.
We loved it and I hope to return someday. Try staying at a restored convent halfway down the hill between Sacra San Michele and Avigliana, Certosa1515. Great restaurant, nice rooms, and an amazing history.
You can drive an hour north to Aosta with its Roman ruins. Along the way are a series of interesting hillltop cathedrals ir castles. But the alps here are gently rolling not all that dramatically until you get to the road under Mount Blanc which is a series of tunnels 10 miles or more. On the other side is Chamonix France which is an impressive ski resort town dwarfed by the alps dramatically. I believe there are some hiking adventures from the Italian side mentioned in RS books.
The other option is the actual Dolomites. Ortisei is western end but you approach from east too a few hours east of Ortisei for different views.
Sadly the rail line between Ivrea and Aosta is under construction until 2026. There is a "bus bridge" out to Aosta. And while Ivrea has some pleasant mountain scenery, it doesn't really compare with the Aosta side.
In addition to the recommendation for Sacra di San Michele, you might also focus on the town of Susa. Some great historic sites and beautiful mountain scenery. A number of nice hiking trails radiate out from there.
Second for Aosta.
