Tuesday, February 28, 2023

St. Augustine Church

 More than ever the world need the collective prayers to restore peace, democracy and human rights in too many parts of the world, thus we are resuming our church pilgrimage in Turin with one of the many little churches in the Roman lanes, downtown Turin: Chiesa di Sant'Agostino in Via Sant'Agostino at the corner with Via Santa Chiara, near pedestrian Via Garibaldi.

First of all put Via Sant'Agostino on your Turin eatery list as you will find plenty and for all tastes and needs! This lane connects Via Garibaldi to Piazza Emanuele Filiberto where more trendy eateries are located. In fact, as the temperatures go up, Piazza Emanuele Filiberto gets a distinct Montmartre atmosphere highly loved by both locals and visitors.



We feel the need to point our that this is an area where all palates and dietary needs will feel at home because all the kitchens of this hood shop at the nearby Porta Palazzo market daily. Yes, vegans have a whole deli and restaurant here too!

The St. Augustine church is one of the oldest Turin churches, dating back to 1047 when it was dedicated to the Apostles James and Philippe. In its first versions it changed from its original plain Romanesque architectural style into its Piedmontese 'Gothic' style made in bricks, with hut-like roof, three naves, polygonal apsis and bell tower.



For many centuries, all the inmates sentenced to death, as well as all the inmates who died in prison were buried by the nearby cloister. The executioner had the privilege of being buried in this church, under the bell tower.

During the 16/17th centuries it was fully rebuilt and finally, in 1548, it was assigned to the order of St Augustine (founded in 1244) who started the construction of their convent. In 1551, this church was renamed Saint Augustine Church but it was officially consecrated only in 1643.



This is also where some French soldiers were buried in 1706 during the siege of Turin. This church underwent more renovation works in the following centuries.

This church has three naves on a basilica plan (that looks like a short cross). Today the central nave has vivid colors and hopefully more renovation works can bring more colors to the side naves too. 



Inside you can see two important funerary monuments, one sporting two dragons; the altar piece representing St Nicholas; on the first altar, the statue of the Holy Mary. 

In the right nave there is a painting by the DΓΌrer's school (1530-1540) while in the chapel of the Holy Mary of the Divine Delivery, on the left nave, you can admire a fragment of a 1400 fresco portraying the Holy Mary found in 1716 in the chimney of a neighboring house that was being demolished to build the convent. This chapel is also where the association supporting the new mothers was created in the 18th century.

The contrast between the burials of criminals under the bell tower and the chapel of the Divine Delivery make of this church a mysterious place even today!


in the old cloister the neighborhood kids can play today



E-mail Lucia: turinepi@gmail.com 

for your walking tours, tastings, concierge service and private classes

 


Saturday, January 28, 2023

January Turin style

We happily greeted 2023 and welcome the year of the rabbit / cat and now we are enjoying Carnival - our Mardi Gras season here in Turin, munching on fritters and sipping hot chocolate.

As it feels that our BC or before Covid19 life was a century ago, to read what our old normal click here.

 

Friday, December 16, 2022

the Hannukkah snow

This second week of December 2022 has been particularly cold and it brought snow a bit everywhere in Italy. However, Turin and Piedmont made the frontpage once again thanks to their being 'the Quebec of Italy' because of both the cold, our French sounding dialect and let's admit it: our peculiar ways too.


the courtyard of the Turin's City Hall

Thursday, December 1, 2022

The Holidays in Turin

Galleria San Federico

And just like that it is December 2022 and the Holiday season has officially kicked off some time in November when many Italians decided it was time to put up their tannenbaum. By now, the only decoration Turin is still missing is her official Christmas tree that will be placed in the 'royal piazza' in front of the royal palace, where the elephant and the novice were in the summer, on December the 8th
This year the Turin Christmas tree won't be alone as a tiny wood of 20 smaller decorated trees will surround it. They will be out till January 8th, so Befana can enjoy them for a couple more days too.

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

travel tips 2 Turin

10 useful tips about Turin


1. Start your Italian travel from Turin or end it here: Turin has its own airport, TRN - well connected to Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam and Madrid where you can connect to and from your international flight.

 


2. Check what events are going to be held during your visit: there's always something cool going on in Turin and the city can be crowded!