Saint John’s Cathedral and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is located in one of the oldest areas of Turin, just a short walk from the archaeological site and the Roman Theatre of Julia Augusta Taurinorum. Built between 1491 and 1498, it is dedicated to the city's patron saint and houses one of the most enigmatic symbols of Christianity: the Holy Shroud. The church is one of the rare examples of Renaissance architecture in Turin. The white marble façade, marked by three doorways, is simple and elegant; on the left side stands the Romanesque bell tower, built in 1720 by Filippo Juvarra. This sacred place is further enriched by the presence of the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, a veritable jewel of European Baroque architecture, designed by Guarino Guarini and built between 1668 and 1694. Commissioned by the Savoy dynasty to house the precious relic, the chapel is famous for its spiral dome and theatrical architecture of arches and light. Badly damaged by fire in 1997, it was restored and reopened to the public in 2018. Visiting the Cathedral and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud means entering a place of deep spirituality and great artistic value, reflecting the age-old link between the faith of the people of Turin and the history of the Savoy dynasty.