Church of San Lorenzo

The Church of San Lorenzo in Turin, also known as the Royal Church of San Lorenzo, is one of the masterpieces of Italian Baroque and an extraordinary example of the architectural skill of Guarino Guarini. Located in Piazza Castello, the church was built between 1668 and 1687, on the initiative of Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, as a thanksgiving for the victory in the battle of San Quintino in 1557. However, work only began more than a century later due to financial limitations and the political turmoil of the time. Guarini, an architect and Theatine priest, designed the church with an octagonal central plan, innovative for its time, breaking with the traditional cross-shaped plan of Baroque churches. The interior structure is characterized by a complex network of intertwined arches supporting the dome, creating a surprising visual effect reminiscent of an eight-pointed star. This design not only demonstrates Guarini’s technical mastery, but also expresses a deep symbolic meaning, with the number eight representing infinity and the return of Christ. One of the most fascinating aspects of the church is the innovative use of light. Guarini designed the dome with eight large elliptical windows that illuminate the interior with a light that seems to dance on the curved surfaces, emphasizing the sense of movement and spirituality of the environment. The arrangement of windows and arches creates a play of shadows that, when viewed from below, forms a figure known as the “devil’s face,” an optical illusion that has fueled many local legends. The church is also famous for its lack of a decorative external facade, an unusual choice for the Baroque period, which Guarini adopted to maintain visual harmony with the surrounding structures of Piazza Castello. The main entrance is sober and discreet, but once inside, visitors are greeted by a symphony of curves and decorations that completely envelop them. Inside, the church houses numerous valuable works of art. The main altar, created by Guarini himself, is adorned with sculptures and paintings celebrating the titular saints. Particularly notable is the altarpiece painted by Andrea Pozzo, depicting Saint Lawrence and his gridiron, symbol of his martyrdom. The side chapels are equally rich in artistic details, with frescoes and stuccoes by various artists of the period. Another prominent feature is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, which houses a replica of the Holy Shroud. The Church of San Lorenzo has a close connection to the Shroud of Turin: it was here that the sacred cloth was temporarily kept before being transferred to the Chapel of the Holy Shroud in the Turin Cathedral. This chapel is a place of great devotion and attracts numerous pilgrims and visitors every year. During the equinox periods, an extraordinary luminous phenomenon occurs inside the church. The sunlight penetrates through a hole above one of the side chapels, illuminating a hidden fresco representing the blessing Father God. This spectacle of natural light, in addition to being of great beauty, symbolizes divine enlightenment and the connection between heaven and earth.