Explore the real places in Veneto, Italy that appear in The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Sacra di San Michele, Susa, Abbey of Novalesa, Avigliana Castle, Mont Cenis Pass and 5 more.
Sant'Ambrogio di Torino — Inspiration for Eco's fictional abbey
This ancient monastery inspired Eco's fictional abbey where Brother William of Baskerville and novice Adso of Melk investigate the mysterious deaths. The labyrinthine library, the Aedificium tower, and the abbey's imposing architecture described in the novel mirror this real location's medieval grandeur and mysterious atmosphere.
Built between 983-1030 AD, the Sacra di San Michele was one of Europe's most important pilgrimage sites. The abbey controlled the mountain passes between France and Italy and housed one of medieval Europe's great libraries.
The Sacra di San Michele remains active as a religious site and major tourist attraction. Visitors can explore the ancient church, crypt, and remaining monastery buildings while enjoying panoramic views of the Susa Valley.
Visit: Sacra di San Michele (historic site)
Ancient Roman town — Where pilgrims and merchants gathered
Brother William and Adso likely passed through Susa on their journey to the abbey. The town represents the worldly concerns and political tensions that follow them - the conflict between Pope John XXII and Emperor Louis the Bavarian that forms the backdrop to their diplomatic mission.
Founded by the Romans as Segusio, Susa was a crucial gateway between Gaul and Italy. In the medieval period, it remained an important stop on pilgrimage routes and trade paths crossing the Alps.
Modern Susa preserves significant Roman and medieval architecture, including the Arch of Augustus and the cathedral. It serves as a gateway town for visitors heading to nearby ski resorts and historical sites.
Visit: Historic Center of Susa (historic site)
Near Susa — Benedictine monastery with ancient library
This represents the type of monastery where the scholarly debates between Franciscans and other orders took place. Brother William's intellectual background and his friendship with William of Ockham would have been shaped by interactions at such centers of learning, where theological and philosophical disputes raged.
Founded in 726 AD, the Abbey of Novalesa was one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in the Alps. It housed a significant library and scriptorium, playing a crucial role in preserving classical and medieval texts.
The abbey complex includes a museum displaying medieval artifacts and manuscripts. Several of the original chapels with ancient frescoes can be visited, offering insight into medieval monastic life.
Visit: Abbey of Novalesa Museum (museum)
Avigliana — Medieval fortress overlooking trade routes
The castle represents the secular power that threatens the abbey's independence. The political tensions between the Pope and Emperor that form the novel's historical backdrop would have been enforced from fortifications like this, where imperial representatives monitored monastic activities and controlled access to mountain passes.
Built in the 10th century, Avigliana Castle controlled the strategic Susa Valley and the routes to France. It served as a residence for the Savoy counts and a military stronghold defending against French incursions.
The castle ruins crown a hill overlooking the town of Avigliana and its lakes. While partially ruined, the remaining towers and walls offer spectacular views and insight into medieval military architecture.
Visit: Castle of Avigliana (historic site)
Alpine pass — Ancient route between France and Italy
This treacherous mountain pass represents the journey that brought Brother William and Adso to the abbey. The isolation created by these Alpine barriers contributes to the claustrophobic atmosphere of the monastery, where seven murders unfold in seven days within the abbey's walls.
Used since Roman times, Mont Cenis was one of the most important medieval routes connecting France and Italy. Pilgrims, merchants, and armies all crossed here, making it crucial for trade and cultural exchange.
A modern road crosses the pass, and a large reservoir created in the 1960s has altered the landscape. However, portions of the ancient route remain visible, and the area offers hiking trails with spectacular Alpine views.
Visit: Mont Cenis Pass and Lake (landmark)
Susa Valley — Medieval village below the abbey
Villages like Borgone represent the simple rural world that contrasts with the abbey's scholarly complexity. The peasants and craftsmen living here would have been the source of the abbey's material needs, providing the food and goods that sustain the monks while remaining outside their intellectual debates.
Borgone developed as a medieval settlement serving travelers on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. The village church and castle ruins date from the abbey's golden age in the 11th-12th centuries.
Borgone preserves its medieval layout with narrow streets and stone buildings. The parish church contains medieval frescoes, and the village serves as a base for hiking to nearby historical sites.
Visit: Historic Village of Borgone di Susa (historic site)
Fortified passage — Defensive barrier in the valley
This narrow passage, controlled by the abbey, represents the monastery's temporal power and its ability to control access to the region. The murders that plague Brother William's investigation occur within an equally confined space - the abbey itself, where the killer moves unseen through secret passages.
The Chiusa (literally 'closure') was a fortified barrier that allowed the abbey to control and tax traffic through the Susa Valley. Built in the 11th century, it was a crucial source of the monastery's wealth and political influence.
Ruins of the ancient fortifications remain visible along the valley floor. The site is accessible via hiking trails that offer views of both the defensive works and the Sacra di San Michele above.
Visit: Chiusa di San Michele Archaeological Site (historic site)
Village at the abbey's base — Where the story unfolds
This village sits directly below the fictional abbey where Adso of Melk narrates his memories of the seven terrible days. Here Brother William uses his logical methods to solve the mystery of the deaths while theological disputes rage around them, culminating in the burning of the great library.
The village developed around the abbey, serving pilgrims and providing services to the monastic community. Its medieval church and buildings reflect the same Romanesque architecture that characterizes the Sacra di San Michele above.
Sant'Ambrogio serves as the starting point for visitors climbing to the Sacra di San Michele. The village maintains its medieval character with stone houses and narrow streets leading up to the mountain path.
Visit: Village of Sant'Ambrogio di Torino (historic site)
Ancient pilgrimage route — The road to Canterbury
Brother William and Adso would have traveled portions of this ancient pilgrimage route to reach the abbey. The path represents the medieval world's interconnectedness, carrying not just pilgrims but ideas, heresies, and the political tensions that create the novel's atmosphere of suspicion and intrigue.
The Via Francigena was medieval Europe's most important pilgrimage route after the Camino de Santiago, connecting Canterbury to Rome. The section through the Susa Valley was particularly challenging but crucial for Alpine crossings.
The Via Francigena has been revived as a modern pilgrimage and hiking route. Waymarked paths follow the historical route, passing through the same landscapes that medieval travelers experienced.
Visit: Via Francigena Pilgrimage Trail (historic site)
Rivoli — Seat of regional power
The Savoy court represents the secular authority that monitors the abbey's activities. The political tensions between Pope John XXII and Emperor Louis the Bavarian that drive the novel's plot would have been felt keenly here, as regional lords chose sides in the great medieval conflict between church and empire.
The House of Savoy controlled this region from the 11th century, building their power through control of Alpine passes and alliances with both papal and imperial forces. Their castle at Rivoli was a center of medieval court life.
The baroque Castello di Rivoli now houses a contemporary art museum. While the medieval structure was largely rebuilt, the site maintains its historical significance and offers views across the region where Eco set his novel.
Visit: Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art (museum)
More by Umberto Eco: All Umberto Eco books
Other nearby maps: Watermark by Joseph Brodsky locations map · The Passion by Jeanette Winterson locations map