Novalesa
Encyclopedia
Novalesa is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Turin
in the Italian
region Piedmont
, located about 60 km west of Turin
, on the border with France.
As of 31 December 2004, Novalesa had a population of 560 and an area of 28.3 km².
The municipality of Novalesa contains the frazioni
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) S. Pietro, S. Rocco, Villaretto, Ronelle, S. Anna, Borghetto, S. Maria, and Fraita.
Novalesa borders the following municipalities: Bessans
(France), Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
(France), Mompantero
, Moncenisio, Usseglio
, and Venaus
.
Near the village is Novalesa Abbey
, an important Benedictine monastery
founded in 726. Acting in effect as a forward position for the Franks
near their border with the territory of the Langobards, the abbey was strategically placed to control the Via Francigena
. The parish church constitutes a site of the Museum of Alpine Religious Art (part of the Diocesan Museum System of Susa).
Near the village there are very high waterfalls, formed by the streams coming from Rocciamelone mountain.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Turin
Province of Turin
The Province of Turin is a province in the Piedmont region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Turin.It has an area of 6,830 km², and a total population of 2,277,686 . There are 315 comuni in the province – the most of any province in Italy...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, located about 60 km west of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, on the border with France.
As of 31 December 2004, Novalesa had a population of 560 and an area of 28.3 km².
The municipality of Novalesa contains the frazioni
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) S. Pietro, S. Rocco, Villaretto, Ronelle, S. Anna, Borghetto, S. Maria, and Fraita.
Novalesa borders the following municipalities: Bessans
Bessans
Bessans is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Located on the Haute-Maurienne plateau, at an altitude of 1750 meters, the area is known for its sporting activities. Bessans is located in a valley, ideal for Nordic skiing...
(France), Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
(France), Mompantero
Mompantero
Mompantero is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km west of Turin in the Val di Susa, near the entrance of the Val Cenischia. Part of the town is on the slopes of the Rocciamelone....
, Moncenisio, Usseglio
Usseglio
Usseglio is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 40 km northwest of Turin, on the border with France....
, and Venaus
Venaus
Venaus is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km west of Turin, on the border with France...
.
Near the village is Novalesa Abbey
Novalesa Abbey
Novalesa Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Piedmont, Italy. It was founded in 726, and dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Andrew.Novalesa is in the Val di Susa, on the route to the Mont Cenis Pass. The founder, Abbo of Provence, was a local Frankish governor. The abbey stands on the former Via...
, an important Benedictine monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
founded in 726. Acting in effect as a forward position for the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
near their border with the territory of the Langobards, the abbey was strategically placed to control the Via Francigena
Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is an ancient road between Rome and Canterbury, passing through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. In mediaeval times it was an important road and pilgrimage route...
. The parish church constitutes a site of the Museum of Alpine Religious Art (part of the Diocesan Museum System of Susa).
Near the village there are very high waterfalls, formed by the streams coming from Rocciamelone mountain.