Trifter

The Senate of Rome decided to erect the “Tropaeum Alpium” at La Turbie to commemorate Emperor Augustus Victory over the Ligurians. The highest point of the new strategic Via Julia Augusta, replacing the old Ligurian path and connecting the Cimiez oppidum, was then selected. The monument was built in 6 and 7 BC. 

View over La Turbie, The Trophy of Augustus and the Mediterranean

The Trophy of the Alps, also called Trophy of Augustus, was constructed in very hard calcareous stones from La Turbie. The 50 m high monument originally rested on a square basis. The second floor supported a circular peristyle consisting of 24 Doric columns, topped with a frieze of metopes. A monumental statue of Emperor Augustus crowned the edifice.

The Trophy of Augustus

Already damaged at the end of the Roman Empire, the Trophy was transformed into a fortress in the Middle-Ages whilst the statues were destroyed by the monks of Lérins who considered them too pagan. In 1705, it is finally dismantled upon Louis XIV’s order. The stones were stolen and used to build the church. As from 1901, the great archaeologist Jean-Camille Formigé organized excavations, and later his son, Jules, with the help of the American patron, Edward Tuck, partially restored the monument from 1929 to 1933. He analyzed the ruins, reinstalled certain elements and restored the inscribing from Pliny the Elder. On the base of the Trophy can be read the names of the tribes brought into subjection by Rome between 29 and 14 B.C.

The Church of Saint-Michael and the Trophy of Augustus

A museum dedicated to Edward Tuck was installed here in 1935. Castings and studies, as well as fragments and a clay model of the Trophy of Augustus are presented to the public. A quarry can also be visited near the site, shafts of columns are still in place. From la Turbie, the vista over Monaco and the Mediterranean is just fabulous.

The Clay Model

Emperor Augustus, inside the Museum.

Trophy of Augustus and substructures.

A relief on the side of the Trophy.

A stroll through the village enables to discover the surrounding walls and old towers. The monumental fountain was officially inaugurated by King Carlo Felice of Italy in 1826. Water comes from the former Roman aqueduct. The church of Saint-Michael, completed in 1777 is an abundantly decorated Baroque edifice.

 A view of the village of La Turbie.

Church of La Turbie.

In the church, the high altar comprises 17 different sorts of marble, the cedar Christ dates back to the XVIIth century and the Communion Table is in onyx and agate. A triptych in the choir is dated 1621, it presents Saint-peter, Saint-John the Baptist and Saint-Paul. Paintings by van Loo (Sainte-Madeleine et Saint-Charles Borromée), a piéta by the Bréa School, a reputed Veronese (Saint-Marc écrivant l’Evangile) and a “Descente de Croix” by the Ribéra School are also part of the church.

The choir in the Church of Saint-Michael, La Turbie.

S.A.S. Prince Albert II of Monaco has a property on the heights of Rocagel, nearby. The  dancer Rudolf Noureev had a residence in La Turbie until 1993.

see also: A Walk Through The Monaco Exotic Garden