Turin Cathedral and The Chapel of the Holy Shroud

The Cathedral of Turin is dedicated to the Saint Patron of the city: St John. It was built between the 1491 and 1498 and it’s the only building in Renaissance style of the city, this church was asked by the Cardinal Domenico della Rovere and the initial project was made by the architect Meo del Caprina. To build the cathedral three mediaeval churches were pulled down: St John, St Mary and one dedicated to the Saviour. Even if St John Cathedral has been restructured many times during the centuries, it has never lost its original appearance. In XVII century the church was enlarged and it was added a chapel in which keeping the Holy Shroud, the works and the project was made by Guarino Guarini. The Chapel hosted for long time the famous relic: the holy shroud should be the linen cloth with which was covered the body of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion and on which is bared the image of the Christ. Every year hundreds of pilgrims go to this Chapel to see this unbelievable relic. In 1997 due to a fire, the chapel made by Guarini has been seriously damaged and it’s still closed for works. The Holy Shroud is currently exposed in a new glass shrine and kept in controlled ambient.