Hidden amidst Torino’s charming streets stands San Rocco a church steeped in history. Its construction began in 1667. This wasn’t just any building project. It was the culmination of centuries of devotion to San Rocco.
San Rocco’s cult had flourished in Torino since the 16th century. A small chapel dedicated to him stood near the Santa Barbara fountains. It was cared for by the Disciplinanti di San Rocco. But this devotion exploded during the 1598 plague scare. Thirty-five members of the Santa Croce Confraternity broke away. They formed the Confraternita di San Rocco Morte ed Orazione. They secured permission from Archbishop Carlo Broglia to hold services in the Madonna delle Grazie chapel. This chapel was within San Gregorio church.
The chapel quickly became too small. Francesco Broglia a confraternity member owned the chapel. He agreed to an expansion with the confraternity members. The existing church and chapel were demolished. A new building was constructed in 1617. The design was by the ducal engineer Carlo di Castellamonte. The result was a single structure with a shared facade. It had two separate entrances one for the Madonna delle Grazie altar and another for San Gregorio’s. A statue of San Rocco was planned for the space between the doors.
Disagreements arose between the Confraternity and the clergy. In 1662 the government suppressed San Gregorio parish. The Confraternity stepped in. They rebuilt the parish’s endowment. They secured its restoration and patronage. They decided to transform the two small churches into one larger church. They bought an adjacent house from Count Vittorio Baratta and some nearby houses. They started building a new church designed by their confrère Francesco Lanfranchi. Construction began in 1667. His son Carlo Emanuele assisted him.
The facade’s construction began in 1690. It was to be made by Filippo Patalino. Lack of funds delayed it until 1780. Vittorio Amedeo III helped finish it. Emilio Palliano became the first parish priest in 1671. He received an annual income of 30 ducats and a house on Via delle Orfane. The house contained a fresco of San Rocco.
In 1620 some confraternity members went to Arles. Their goal was to obtain a relic of their patron saint. This relic was placed in a crystal urn. Queen Maria Cristina gave the urn. It sits beneath the altar.
By the early 1700s the church resembled its current form. In 1717 the Madonna altar was built. The design was by Francesco Crotti. Antonio Casanova made it. The bell tower was raised in 1725. Bernardo Vittone designed a new main altar in 1755. It replaced a wooden one. The choir was finalized between 1772 and 1774. A new facade designed by Pietro Tommaso Beria was built in 1780. Road widening in 1885 necessitated its replacement. The city of Torino rebuilt the facade in 1890.
The church underwent significant improvements in 1830. The architect Lorenzo Panizza oversaw them. The confraternity continued its tradition of burying abandoned corpses. They established the Pia Società delle Sepolture. They performed this task. A Parisian seamstress who committed suicide is among those buried there. Her body was found in the Po River. Many wealthy families are buried in the underground chapel. Their tombs are gone. Inscriptions remain on the chapel walls.
Allied air raids damaged the church in World War II. The damage was repaired. San Rocco stands today as a testament to faith resilience and the enduring devotion to its patron saint. Look closely at the details. Notice the craftsmanship and the devotion to San Rocco that lives on in the heart of Torino.