Right here stands the Cappella Tarino also known as Cappella dei Mercanti. It is a jewel box of faith and artistry. This Catholic chapel holds centuries of history within its walls. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith and community.
The Cappella Tarino’s story began in the 16th century. The Pious Congregation of Bankers, Merchants and Shopkeepers of Turin received authorization to build their own chapel. This happened in 1663. They chose a space adjacent to the Church of the Holy Martyrs. This church was then staffed by the Jesuits. Construction finished at the end of the 1600s.
The Cappella Tarino became a place for merchants, shopkeepers, and bankers to congregate. They engaged in worship ceremonies within its sacred space. The chapel’s construction occurred during the rectorate of Fr. Agostino Provana. He served from 1680 to 1726. The Cappella Tarino was inaugurated in 1692. Provana guided its decoration in the following years.
The theme of the interior decorations is the Epiphany. This represents Christ’s manifestation to the powerful of the earth. The Congregation celebrates its own feast on this day. Seventeenth-century paintings adorn the walls of the Cappella Tarino. They all draw inspiration from the theme of the Biblical Magi.
On the left wall, you can see Herod with the Magi and the wise men by Sebastiano Taricco. Also Journey of the Magi towards Bethlehem by Luigi Vannier and Opening of the treasures of the Wise Men by Stefano Maria Legnani. Finally Announcement of the angel to the Magi by Sebastiano Taricco.
On the right wall, notice Appearance of the star to the Magi by Andrea Pozzo. You will also see King David meditates on the mystery of the Epiphany by Stefano Maria Legnani. The Massacre of the Innocents by Andrea Pozzo is also there as is Procession of the Magi into Jerusalem by Niccolò Carone.
Carlo Giuseppe Plura created marbled wooden statues that alternate with the paintings. They depict popes and church fathers. Notice John Chrysostom, Gregory the Great, and Saint Ambrose on the left wall. Saint Jerome, Saint Leo the Great, and Saint Augustine are on the right wall. Plura also carved the marble bust of the Madonna to the left of the altar.
Michele Emanuele Buscaglione created the altar in 1797. Two reliquaries stand on either side. Three paintings by the Jesuit painter Andrea Pozzo adorn the wall. They are Nativity with shepherds, Adoration of the Magi, and Flight to Egypt. Legnanino’s baroque frescoed ceiling depicts Heaven, prophets, sibyls and biblical episodes. It dates to 1694-1695. The organ on the wall opposite the altar dates back to the eighteenth century.
The sacristy holds the altarpiece Adoration of the Magi by Guglielmo Caccia. There is also a Piccolo Trono by Michele Brassiè. A Natale Favriano wardrobe from 1712 is there too. The sacristy also houses precious Antependi and the archive of the Congregation.
The sacristy contains the Perpetual Calendar by Giovanni Plana. It is one of the oldest calculator machines. It allows precise calendrical calculation over a period of 4000 years starting from year zero. This includes calculating lunations, days of the week and Christian holidays.
After a period of renovation, the Cappella Tarino was returned to the public on January 21, 2017. The Cappella Tarino stands as a testament to Turin’s rich artistic and religious heritage. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and history.