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Best Churches in Turin

Description:

A list of not-to-be-missed Turin churches. Turin's history is reflected through its buildings and monuments but its churches are testimonies to Christian centres of worship through time. Many of these churches are iconic symbols of the city, such as the Cattedrale del Duomo, the beautiful Santuario della Consolata and the Royal Church of San Lorenzo.

Churches in Turin don't have to big to be impressive. Two churches can be found at the southern end of Piazza San Carlo, the church of Santa Cristina and the church of San Carlo framing the entrance to the southern part of via Roma.

Author: Adrian Petersen

Day 1 - Turin

Let's start at the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, also known as the Duomo di Torino, in Via XX Settembre. Its the only example of Renaissance architecture in the city and was erected between 1491 and 1948. Behind the rather bland façade are six chapels to the right side of the right aisle and seven along the left. Of particular note is the second chapel on the right, consecrated to San Crispino and San Crispiniano, painted by Defendente Ferrari. The Shroud of Turin is kept inside a special fireproof case in the Duomo di San Giovanni Battista. There is a photographic copy on display.

Just behind the Cathedral stands the Royal Church of San Lorenzo, adjacent to the Piazzetta Reale, in this case its simple façade conforms to nearby civil buildings. Construction began in 1634 and the church was consecrated in 1680. Famous for its extraordinary cupola which because of its astonishing, interlocking rib design seems infinite. Designed by Guarino Guarini, the church was the original home for La Sacra Sindone when it first arrived in the city.

From here, leave the piazzetta and enter Via Garibaldi There are two churches in this street worth a peek. The first is at number 25, the S.S. Martiri, dedicated to Turin's three patron saints, Solutore, Avventore and Ottavio, the church was built by the Jesuits in 1577. Just to the right of the church there's access, via the Jesuit's college, to the lavishly decorated Chapel of the Pious Congregation of Merchants and Bankers.

The Basilica Sanctuary of the Consolata can be found by leaving Via Garibaldi and taking Via della Consolata, across Piazza Savoia, to the small piazza on you right aptly named Piazza della Consolata. The original church was founded in the 11th century and features Juvarra's lavish high altar as its centre piece. Opposite the entrance, across the piazza at number5, is Al Bicherin, Turin's oldest coffee shop.

Last stop of the day will be Piazza San Carlo, so leaving the Consolata by way of Via della Orfane renter Via Garibaldi, turn left and head toward Piazza Castello again. At the end of the street, turn right and enter Via Roma across the piazza. Turin's grandest shopping street leads into Piazza San Carlo where at the southern end facing you are two churches, the church of San Carlo and the Church of Santa Cristina.

The Church of Santa Cristina was erected in 1639 on the wishes of Christine of France, the first Madama Reale, the marble and granite façade is due to Filippo Juvarra. Inside there is a single nave and beside the high altar, there is a rectangular chapel with the painting, Riposo dallaFuga in Egitto, by Antonio Triva. The church of San Carlo was begun in 1619, also has a single nave with two bays with cross vaults and two chapels on each side. Look out for the first chapel on the left, of the Addolorata, which hosts a work of art by Tommaso Carlone.

Depending on what time you started this is probably time for an aperitivo which is quite lucky, as Piazza San Carlo contains three of Turin's most famous caffes, Caffe Torino at number 204, Caffee San Carlo at number 156 and on the opposite side of the piazza, at number 155 is Neuv Caval’d Brôns frequented in the past by the likes of Ava Gardner, Errol Flynn, Orson Welles, Fangio and Sinatra.

Don't forget to look out for the bull's balls outside Caffe Torino, stand on them and it might bring you luck! What a way to end the day!

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