Church of Our Lady of the Angels

The Church of the Madonna degli Angeli, located at the corner of via Cavour and via Carlo Alberto in Turin, is an eloquent testimony of the historical, artistic, and architectural evolution of the city. Built between 1631 and 1650 at the behest of the Reformed Franciscan Friars, the church stands on the remains of an older religious building. The initiative for the construction of the new church was also supported by the marchioness of Riva, Margherita di Roussilon, and by Maurice of Savoy. The architecture of the church reflects a sober yet elegant Baroque style. The floor plan consists of a single nave with side chapels, connected to each other, culminating in a semispherical dome. The dome, made of reinforced concrete, is one of the first applications of the Hennebique technique in Turin, an innovation by engineer Carlo Ceppi who designed the structure during the renovation of 1901-1904. This intervention profoundly transformed the appearance of the church, integrating modern elements with the original seventeenth-century structure. The interior of the church houses numerous artistic masterpieces. The main altar, made of marble, is adorned with a wooden choir and a mosaic from 1961. Among the notable paintings are works by Bartolomeo Caravoglia, Gianbattista Molinari, and Filippo Abbiati, artists who have contributed to making the church a true treasure trove of art. The arches decorated with angel heads add a touch of sacredness and beauty to the environment. A significant episode in the history of the church is linked to the funeral of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, one of the protagonists of the Italian Risorgimento. On June 7, 1861, Cavour’s body was brought to the church for the funeral, an event that testifies to the historical and social importance of the building. The parish priest at the time, Father Giacomo da Poirino, was punished by the ecclesiastical authorities for administering the sacraments to Cavour, who was then excommunicated, highlighting the tensions between political and religious power of that time. The church was elevated to the rank of sanctuary in 1924, a recognition that emphasizes its spiritual importance for the Turin community. Another valuable element is the organ, inaugurated in 1914 and built by Francesco Vegezzi Bossi, a masterpiece of musical engineering with three keyboards and a concave-radial pedalboard, mechanically transmitted with 44 stops. During World War II, the church suffered significant damage due to bombings, but was subsequently restored, continuing to serve as an active place of worship and a symbol of resilience for the city.