Do you see the building way up there on top of the mountain? That is the Sacra di San Michele, a one-thousand-year-old abbey dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel just outside of Turin. This view is from the train station, where we started our walk.
First, we had to walk through the cute little town of Sant' Ambrogio di Torino.
Then, we took the old cobblestone mule track up the mountain.
The stations of the cross line the way up the mountain. After a very long time (about an hour and a half or so), we walked through another, smaller village.
After more climbing, we were finally on the last 15 minute trek of the pilgrimage.
We made it! It took us nearly 2 1/2 hours to walk from the train station to the abbey, but it was so worth it. I had to stop and rest several times, and although Nathaniel will complain about the walk now, he was completely supportive on our journey.
The Sacra was built in the 980s. It's hard to imagine how those monks built an abbey literally on the top of the mountain. Pilgrims have been visiting the Sacra for over a thousand years.
to be continued...
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