Excursion Shrines and Saints of Turin.
On the tour you will learn: the history and mysteries of the Shroud of Turin, inspection of its life-size copy. Visit the Shroud Museum in the crypt of the Church of the Holy Shroud. The most ancient churches of Turin, early Christian martyrs and saints honoured by Orthodoxy. The patron saints of the city are St John the Baptist and Our Lady of Consolation. Turin’s 19th century “social saints” and their legacy.
The Basilica of St John the Baptist houses one of the most significant relics of Christianity, the Shroud of Turin. According to one theory, Christ’s body was wrapped in it after his death on Calvary. The relic is kept in a fireproof container, inside which a special temperature is maintained. Tourists can see the relic once every 25 years (the last time it was exhibited in 2010) for forty days. The rest of the time, pilgrims and the curious are presented with a copy of the shroud.
The Church of St Lawrence The facade of the Basilica of St Lawrence – the fact that it is a church is indicated only by the dome at the top of the building and some details on the walls. But inside there is an extraordinary beauty: it is one of the richest churches in Turin. The church’s modest facade was not accidental: the Savoy rulers who commissioned the basilica in the 17th century believed that nothing should detract from the nearby Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama.
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Great – the construction of this landmark was timed to coincide with the victory over Bonaparte and the return to the throne of Victor Emmanuel I, King of Savoy. The basilica was inaugurated in 1831 in the presence of King Carlo Alberto. The church resembles a pantheon with a huge staircase leading up to it.
Basilica Superga – although it is 10 kilometres from Turin, it is worth a look: it is the final resting place of the Savoy kings and offers a superb view of the city and the Po River. The church was built on a hill at the beginning of the XVIII century.
The twin churches are Baroque. It was ordered to be built in 1640 by Maria Christina of France in memory of her eldest son who died. But the architect died a year later, so construction was delayed: the facade appeared seventy years later.
On the right is the Church of San Carlo Borromeo. It was named after the saint who came to the town to pray to the Holy Shroud.
The Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation – the first building was erected in the XVII century. At the end of the XIX century, the brothers who owned the church, began to experience serious difficulties with money, which had a negative impact on the church: it began to deteriorate. Therefore, in 1913 the church was demolished, and six years later they started the construction of a new building, taking the Roman Baroque as a basis. The construction was completed in 1934, and now many people consider the Church of the Holy Annunciation to be one of the most beautiful churches in the city.
The Church of St Rita was built in the neo-Gothic style in the early 20th century. Therefore, its appearance is strikingly different from other churches in the city, more reminiscent of churches in Germany.
