Height: 821 m. Surface: 18.71 m2 Inhabitants: 954. Distance from Turin: 57 km. Postal Code: 10050. How reaching: ss. 24, A32 Susa toll, Turin-Modane railway line, Susa or Chiomonte railway station.
History
Gravere: the town which is not. On the right side of Dora Riparia river,
Gravere mostly includes different complexes that had been suburbs of
Susa community for centuries. In 1662 only they were full acknowledged
as autonomous human communities. However, the religious autonomy came before
the political autonomy. Thanks to the vote in favour of the erection of a
new church in 1598, a time of plague, the works for building the parish
church dedicated to the very holy Saint Mary's nativity and to Saint Barbara
started. But this church was ended in 1745 only, with the first electronic
clock that, based on tradition, came from Brunetta. Since that time, Gravere
inhabitants depended on Pieve of Santa Maria Maggiore in Susa and attended
their small church of very holy Saints Giacomo and Filippo in Croaglie, which
then has been destroyed.
In 1592, the Saint Francis castle was erected after a project by the military
engineer Gabrio Busca. It was part of three Gravere fortresses, together
with Molaro and Monmorone Rock, built to protect the frontier of the Dauphin
area with France. The Savoy armies vainly attempted to stop the French armies
of Cardinal Richelieu and Marshall Catinat bound to Turin in 1629 and 1690.
The most important Gravere monument is undoubtedly Losa Charthouse born in
1189, in a church dedicated to Mary. Once it was inhabited all around by
a Benedictine community, there were small houses that then escaped after
the Saracen invasion, on Thomas I of Savoy initiative. Only the small bell-tower,
frescos of early Four Hundredth century after a Lombard styled inspiration
and the wonderful Marian Baldachinaltar resorting to the first half of XV
century remain of the Romanic styled building.
Art&Culture
Losa Charthouse
In 814, around 20 members of St. Benedict community left Oulx abbey convent,
which had become too-small for the numerous friars, to live in loneliness
and established themselves at Losa, where they built a chapel. They lived
in cell-houses spread around the chapel. The hermits had lived in this area
for 150 years, up to X century, when they were compelled to escape due to
Saracen invasion. In 1189, here arrived Grenoble Carthusians
who remained here up to 1200 only. Then they went to Montebenedetto. After
having achieved the religious autonomy, Gravere parish priest hardly bore
the processions of pilgrims of the Madonna del Ponte di Susa Church. Due
to a vote against plague of 1598, every 15th August of year they went to
the chapel, that once belonged to the village. In fact, the religious processions
can be allowed in one's own jurisdiction only. When he fully owned the small
church and could furnish it and appoint the priors, who, by ancient right
had to be from Alteretto, he stopped the controversy forbidding the pilgrimage.
The target of such processions was an ancient wooden icon of Madonna (XIII-XIV
century). In 1690, to be made free of war that was destroying the town, already
suffering from a severe epidemic, Gravere inhabitants made vote to go in
procession to Losa Madonna on St. Anne day (26th July) and such tradition
lasts even today, but the path to be run is much smaller. The church has
been continuously visited by thieves who have sacked it of quite all furnishings.
Parish Church Dedicated to the Very Holy Saint Mary's Nativity and to Saint Barbara
The parish church was ended in 1745 only, with the first electronic clock
that, based on tradition, came on Brunetta; earlier, Gravere inhabitants
depended on Pieve of Santa Maria Maggiore in Susa and attended their small
church of very holy Saints Giacomo and Filippo in Croaglie.
Refornetto Suburb
The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was built due to a vote made during
the plague of summer 1598. The works were started much with enthusiasm, but
due to winter arrival and disease lower diffusion, even the enthusiasm of
many people reduced; the commitment of some people to be faithful to the
engagement and the collection of promised donations (promises made during
the plague) (this was very hard, as not all donation engagements were written,
and when plague left, many people "forgot" their promises) in 1599 allowed
the regular restart of works. However, works were not fast, due to the famine
which followed the plague, worsened by a flood in 1601 and the military battles
that were in Gravere area in those years. In 1609 the parish, even if still
unended, was consecrated and this gave Gravere the religious autonomy earlier
than financial autonomy. The tower-bell was erected in 1656 only at charges
of municipality, using the stones of Grande Essimonte. The bells were arranged
in 1657; the small pre-existing bell come from a random tower-bell,
the medium bell was taken from Losa but during the transport broke and had
to be melted again, the big bell (460 kilos) was properly melted.
The first mechanic clock, that based on tradition came from Brunetta, was
applied in 1745 to the tower-bell. Some interesting engravings can be noted
on rock top, south of church. Two well visible equine hoof marks can be noted.
The legend says they belong to Erode horse that jumped when bringing
his king beyond Alps in exile; however, some people say that the devil dominated
Gravere from that rock and marked it with his feet when left the area due
to the church erection. Next to these engravings, there are also six small
cups. They come from ancient pagan sacrificial rites of Druidic priests to
Celtic gods. They got prophecies from how the victim's blood arranged on
cavity dip into rock.
Saint Francis Fortress
Over the rock, south of which there are Bastia suburb houses, in 1592
Saint Francis fortress was built, after a Gabrio Busca's project. Gabrio
Busca was a military engineer on account of Charles Emmanuel I; by exploiting
the ridge, a simple railing was implemented. This run across the borders
with small towers on angles. In the interior, there were 2 hutments for armies
and a chapel. The access was made possible by a path rising along the Eastern
side of mount. It was part of the three Gravere fortresses, together with
Molaro and Monmorone rocks laid down to protect the frontier of the Dauphin
area. The Savoy armies vainly attempted to stop the French armies of Cardinal
Richelieu and Marshall Catinat bound to Turin in 1629 and 1690. Indeed, Gravere
was never involved in real wars, but highly suffered from the passage of
the several soldiers who passed by the valley and who continuously
sacked the population and suburb chapels. In many cases, these were razed
to the ground.
Ex-Voto Pile
The area is rich in ex-voto piles witnessing, as holy images painted on the
walls of old houses do, the highly religious spirit of Gravere inhabitants
during last centuries. They had been often erected for will by some families,
due to votes made by them, as this which was erected by Richetto family,
when the three brother Domick, Ambrogio, and Francis came back in good health
from war.
Alteretto Suburb
Probably, this is one of the most ancient Gravere complexes, certainly the
most populated during last century, before that a high migration reduced
it to an empty town. Its chapel is dedicated to the Rosary Madonna. The suburb
was seat of Ripa Counts, co-Lords of Losa and Alteretto, even today well
known to political and worldly chronicles, who contributed to the completion
of the parish church, and not only economically.
Moranda Houses
This area is famous for its "tobacco factory";. In fact, here was the drier
for the leaves to be worked to have wired tobacco, powder tobacco, ground
tobacco, and cigarettes. In view of ground type, it is possible that the
growing occurred on the spot, on the plain free of other plants even today.
Ex-Voto Pile Dedicated to Saint Anne
This is another religious witness. It is one of the steps of procession that
from the parish went to Losa, passing across Alteretto, in Saint Anne day.
This habit was stopped during the Second World War, but it was started immediately
after the war. This became the boundary of procession that departed to Gravere,
from town church; now the procession path has been further reduced and is
limited to a tour around Losa chapel.
Trucco Military Battery
This is also named Losa battery; it was implemented in 1891; it was constituted
by a trench including two batteries on two [...].
