Torino is not just a football team: it is a living part of Italian history, a symbol of pride, passion, and tragic greatness. Among the most intense chapters of its story, none is as heartfelt and moving as the one connected to the hill of Superga.
The Great Torino: A Legendary Team
In the 1940s, Torino built a team that entered into legend: the Great Torino. Under the guidance of the charismatic captain Valentino Mazzola, that squad dominated the Italian championship, winning five consecutive scudetti from 1943 to 1949 (with an interruption caused by the war). More than just a team, the Great Torino embodied the spirit of rebirth in post-war Italy, representing talent, determination, and teamwork. The Italian national team itself was largely based on the granata players.
The Tragedy of Superga: May 4, 1949
May 4, 1949, is a date that no Torino fan – nor any football enthusiast – will ever forget. That day, the flight returning the team from Lisbon, after a friendly match against Benfica, crashed into the rear wall of the Basilica of Superga due to thick fog and a navigation error. All 31 passengers aboard lost their lives: players, coaches, managers, journalists, and crew members. The Great Torino was wiped out in an instant, leaving an unfillable void in the hearts of fans and in the world of football.
The Superga Memorial: A Place of Remembrance and Pilgrimage
Even today, those who ascend the hill of Superga find, next to the Basilica, a silent and touching place: the memorial of the Great Torino. On the external wall, where the plane crashed, a commemorative plaque has been placed bearing the names of all the victims and a dedication that reads:
"Here, on May 4, 1949, at 5:05 PM, fate shattered the flight of the Great Torino. Immortal."
Every year, on May 4, hundreds of granata fans, former players, managers, and simple enthusiasts gather here to pay tribute in a moving and heartfelt ceremony. A tradition renewed annually, testifying that the memory of the Great Torino has never faded.
Curiosities: The Motto and the Primavera
The motto “Only fate defeated them” has become an identity anthem for Torino. After the tragedy, it was the young players of the Primavera who finished the season in place of the fallen champions, still managing to win the title. This gesture underscores the deep spirit of sacrifice and belonging that has always characterized the granata team.
Superga: A Place that Speaks to the Heart, as Well as to the Eyes
Superga is not only a place linked to faith and the architectural history of Turin, but also an eternal symbol of the bond between sport, memory, and identity.