Ever wonder about the story behind that imposing building? That is the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute. It is a sanctuary dedicated to Mary. She is the “health” of the country and the sick.
Construction on the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute began in 1895. It was built on a site that saw a clash in 1706. The troops of Vittorio Amedeo II fought against those of the King Sun. This is a shrine to that battle. The remains of San Murialdo rest here.
The Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute stands in Borgo Vittoria. This is a north-western district of Turin. It commemorates the victory. The Austro-Piedmontese army triumphed over Louis XIV’s forces. This happened during the siege of 1706. The cornerstone was laid on May 21, 1895. Giovanni Angelo Reycend designed the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute.
The grand temple paid homage to Vittorio Amedeo II. Prince Eugene of Savoy-Soissons was also honored. Their images appear in the facade’s bas-reliefs. The construction of the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute proceeded slowly.
Monsignor Carlo Giaume promoted the building of the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute. He died in 1929. The church was still unfinished. The Giuseppini took over the direction in 1927. This congregation was founded by San Leonardo Murialdo in 1873. They injected new energy into the work.
It took two more decades to complete the building of the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute. The dome was completed in 1934. The altar of the Madonna was completed in 1937. A painting by Enrico Reffo was placed there. It was named Nostra Signora della Salute and was created in 1890. The crypt of the fallen of 1706 was finished in 1959. Leonardo Murialdo’s remains were moved here on June 6, 1971. They came from the church of Santa Barbara. A new chapel was inaugurated on October 24, 1992. It became his final resting place within the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute.
The air raid of July 13, 1943, affected the whole area. The area included Piazza Chiesa della Salute. It also included Via Vibò, Piazza Vittoria, and Via Villar. The Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute was hit. Incendiary bombs and the blast caused damage. Partition walls and domes suffered lesions. The roof was uncovered. Fixtures and fittings were damaged too. The priests’ living quarters were damaged. These were in buildings next to the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute. Internal walls and fixtures were damaged. One floor was destroyed.
“La Salute” printing house was located nearby. It was managed by the Pious Society of San Giuseppe. During the night of July 13, 1943, a bomb blast caused damage. Internal walls collapsed. Slabs suffered lesions. The facade was chipped. The joinery was shattered.
Today, the imposing dome makes the Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute visible. You can see it from many parts of Turin. The external lighting makes it even more prominent. This is especially true in the city’s skyline. The Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Salute stands not just as a religious site. It stands as a beacon in the urban landscape.