On Turin’s doorstep, Colle di Superga packs a short but fearsome ramp: under 5 km to reach the baroque basilica overlooking the city, almost entirely in double digits.
A continuous, steep ascent
From Sassi, it’s 4.8 km for 449 m of elevation gain, averaging 9.3% with sections touching 14%. The road offers only two or three brief flat stretches to catch your breath before the gradient bites again.
The rack tramway as a marker
A century-old rack tramway climbs alongside the road up to the basilica, a handy visual marker for gauging progress through the wooded switchbacks.
A hill steeped in history
On 4 May 1949, the plane carrying the Grande Torino football team crashed into the hill just below the basilica, wiping out one of the era’s greatest teams. A memorial marks this defining moment in Turin’s history.
How to approach the ride
A compact chainset and a wide-range cassette help hold a steady rhythm on the sustained 9-10% rather than burning matches from the bottom of the ramp.
Good to know
The summit offers one of the finest views over Turin and, on a clear day, the Alpine range on the horizon — a quick reward for an effort that fits in under half an hour.