The Holy Shorud Chapel of Torino

Most first-time visitors to Turin choose to enter the Royal Palace. This building is one of the most prestigious royal residences in Europe, the seat of the central government of the House of Savoy and a creative laboratory for artists of all backgrounds and skill sets. However, within Turin's royal residence lies a true masterpiece of Baroque architecture, designed by a great Italian architect from the second half of the 17th century, named Guarino Guarini. Although less well-known than other great contemporary architects, Guarini was a true architectural innovator, transforming a small, almost provincial capital into a city brimming with palaces and astonishing architecture. Within Turin's royal palace is the world-famous "Chapel of the Shroud," the section of the building adjacent to Turin Cathedral intended to house the most important relic in Christianity: the shroud that is believed to have wrapped the body of Jesus after his deposition from the cross. I'll tell you more about the Shroud in a future article, so for now let's focus on the building itself, which, despite being intended for purely religious purposes, is an integral part of the Royal Palace of Turin.

It is located along the northwest wing of the palace, specifically to allow members of the Royal Family direct access from the palace. The faithful could access it via two imposing staircases located at the end of the side aisles of the Cathedral, the rear wall of which adjoins the Chapel of the Shroud. The chapel consists of a low circular drum clad in black marble, supported by three enormous arches symbolizing the Trinity. Above this is a smaller drum with six large windows designed to lighten the weight of the dome.

From here begins the most impressive section: the dome. Unlike traditional domes, even the most daring and complex, Guarino Guarini wanted to symbolize the transition from darkness to light—from the black marble base to the brightness of the twelve-pointed star, at the center of which stands the dove of the Holy Spirit. This was achieved by creating six levels of windows, each smaller than the previous one and slightly rotated by 45 degrees. This structure allows light to flood the entire dome at all hours of the day, even on rainy days.

In short, if you don't love the art and Baroque decorations of a royal residence, you will undoubtedly love Guarini's genius in creating this extraordinary chapel, reopened to the public almost 10 years ago after a lengthy restoration following a fire.

To visit the Chapel of the Shroud, you must purchase an entrance ticket to the Royal Palace of Turin.