Most people are totally unaware of what Turin holds; a few know about Juventus (one of our two soccer teams); some are familiar with her industrial past thanks to FIAT, but only wine and culinary professionals can easily put her on the map. And yet, Turin has always occupied a very distinctive spot in the European map.
Thanks to her central position, for over ten centuries, Turin has created a broad network of cultural and economical connections, granting her a privileged relationship with the European royal courts and the commoners who quickly integrated her name in their own language. This is why Turin has the same spelling in most languages.
At the European level, Turin has always been synonym of refinement in many domains, from art to technology, from education to economy, but especially agriculture and industrial innovation. This is how she won many nicknames like the Philadelphia, the Paris, the MoTown and the Chicago (because we have famous bulls too!) of Italy and her legacy is visible all around town from the university founded in 1404 to her many churches, especially the Chapel of Merchants, Shop Keepers and Bankers!
This is a stunning Roman Catholic church following the usual Turin rule: unassuming from its façade and majestic when you enter. Renovated in 2017, this Baroque church is fully gilded and literally glistens during the service.
Located in Via Garibaldi 52, it was commissioned by the guild of merchants, shopkeepers and bankers as a place to pray and network; finally, in 1692 it was inaugurated. Interestingly, its decorations are about the Epiphany or the manifestation of Christ to the powerful people on earth. Consequently, this church celebrates January 6th - the Epiphany Day, as its official holiday.
Most paintings and decorations date back to the late 17th - early 18th centuries: all the paintings in the main hall are about the three wisemen visiting the baby Jesus, and they alternate along the walls, with statues of saints and popes.
In 1695, the beautiful fresco on the vault was completed with its representation of the Paradise, the prophets, the sybils (female seers who could foretell the coming of Christ) and episodes from the Bible.
Behind the 1797 altar and at both sides, there are two reliquaries and three paintings about the nativity, the adoration of the kings and the flight into Egypt.
Facing the altar on the opposite wall there is a 1700 pipe organ.
This Baroque church is definitely stunning on its own but the real gem is actually the sacristy aka 'the priest's locker room'- where the priest gets ready for the service.
Here you can see an altar piece about the Adoration of the Magi, different antique pieces of furniture like a small throne (1792), a 1712 closet, many religious objects, the archive of the guild and the perpetual calendar!
This perpetual calendar is a 1700 computer: a machine that perfectly calculates all the calendar information for 4000 years starting on year 0. The calculation of the lunations, days of the week and Christian holidays is extremely precise too.
Follow the yellow brick road to Turin, amici, get in touch with Lucia 📧 turinepi@gmail.com
to plan your travel with all the insider's information you need to make the most of your time in Torino, Piedmont and Italy but especially, to book your private tours, tastings and private classes.
- devote a whole week to discover Turin and her many gems,
- land at TRN ✈ and
- travel with an empty suitcase to stock up on all our local products🎁: art, wines, chocolates, cookies, candies, cashmere, and souvenirs just to tickle your fantasy 😜
Turin will amaze you!
