Torino - Santissima Trinità

Turin is the capital of Piedmont and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The population of the city is about 850.000 while the population of the metropolitan area is estimated at 2.2 million.


In the first century BC the Romans founded "Augusta Taurinorum". Turin reached about 5,000 inhabitants at the time, all living inside the high city walls. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the town was conquered by the Ostrogoths and later by the Lombards whose territory in 773 fell into the hands of the Franks under Charlemagne. After the marriage of Adelaide of Susa with Humbert Biancamano's son Otto, the family of the Counts of Savoy gained control. The title of count was held by the Bishop as count of Turin. At the end of the 13th century, when it was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy, the city already had 20,000 inhabitants. Many of the gardens and palaces were built in the 15th century when the city was redesigned. The University of Turin was also founded during this period.

The Confraternity of the Holy Trinity was founded in 1557 to promote assistance to pilgrims. To make space for this church a 12th century church was demolished in 1583. The construction of the new church was entrusted to Ascanio Vitozz. He designed a church that constantly recalls the motif of the Trinity, proposing a project with a central plan that provides an equilateral triangle inscribed in a perimeter with three entrances, three choirs, and three altars. The church was consecrated in 1606, although the dome, seen here, was not completed until 1661.