Church of San Domenico Maggiore

The Church of San Domenico in Turin is the only example of Gothic architecture that has survived in the city, an authentic historical gem that tells centuries of religious, political, and social events. Founded by the Dominican Friars between 1227 and 1280, the church has undergone numerous expansions and modifications over the centuries, which have altered but also enriched its original Gothic configuration. The first construction included the Chapel of Graces, the Sacristy, and the Presbytery. In 1260, under the guidance of Father Giovanni da Torino, a convent with a library was added, making San Domenico an important cultural center in the city. The facade was erected in 1334, while the bell tower was completed in 1451. However, during the plague of 1630, an iron grate was installed at the entrance to allow the faithful to attend mass without entering the building, a sign of the dramatic conditions of that time.During the Napoleonic period, the church was looted and the convent was converted into a Masonic lodge. This phase marked a significant loss of its artistic and religious heritage. Only in 1906, thanks to the engineer Riccardo Brayda, the church was restored, recovering many of its original features without eliminating the testimonies of the various eras.Inside the church, the Chapel of Graces houses fourteenth-century frescoes depicting the twelve apostles, the work of the Master of San Domenico. In the Chapel of the Rosary, designed by Luigi Michele Barberis, there is an altarpiece by Guercino depicting the Madonna of the Rosary with Saints Dominic and Catherine of Siena, surrounded by fifteen panels in gilded wood depicting the Mysteries, created by Stefano Maria Clemente.Another point of interest is the fresco depicting Amadeus IX of Savoy, attributed to Antoine de Lonhy, located in the third altar of the left nave. The sacristy houses a banner believed to have belonged to the Savoy fleet during the Battle of Lepanto, donated by Victor Amadeus II of Savoy after the victory of 1706.The church of San Domenico also has a deep connection to the history of the Inquisition in Turin, as it was the seat of the Inquisition Tribunal at the end of the thirteenth century. This dark aspect of its past is balanced by its importance as a center of culture and spirituality.