Six Years in the Making: The Moon, Monviso, and Superga Align in One Perfect Shot

After years of patience, persistence, and precise planning, Italian photographer Valerio Minato has captured a celestial masterpiece — the Moon perfectly aligned with Turin’s Superga Basilica and the Monviso Mountain towering in the background.

This breathtaking image, realized in 2023, is the culmination of a dream Minato has pursued since 2017. For six long years, he tracked the Moon’s movements, calculated angles, and studied weather conditions to ensure he could be in the right place at exactly the right moment. The result is more than a photograph — it’s a poetic meeting of nature, architecture, and human determination.

A Rare Alignment

The shot captures three iconic elements in a single frame:

• 🌙 The Moon, glowing in pristine clarity.

• ⛪ The Superga Basilica, an 18th-century architectural landmark overlooking Turin.

• 🏔 Monviso Mountain, one of the most majestic peaks of the Italian Alps.

The alignment is incredibly rare, making this not only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Minato but also a gift for anyone who loves the marriage of science, art, and patience.

Six Years of Perseverance

Since first envisioning the photograph in 2017, Minato knew it would take more than luck. Capturing the Moon in just the right position required precise astronomical calculations and, perhaps most challenging of all, the cooperation of the weather. Cloud cover, haze, or even slight atmospheric shifts could have ruined the shot.

“It wasn’t just about waiting,” Minato has shared in past interviews about his work. “It was about preparing, calculating, and trusting that eventually the sky would give me this moment.”

The Power of Passion and Patience

This achievement is a reminder that true artistry often lies in the blend of passion, perseverance, and patience. In an era of instant gratification, Minato’s dedication over six years underscores how the most extraordinary creations sometimes demand time and persistence.

The photograph is already being celebrated not just as an image of beauty, but as a symbol of determination — a visual story that inspires dreamers, photographers, and stargazers alike.