Torino - Duomo di Torino

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.

Since Lombard times the site was a complex of the original three Christian churches, dedicated to the Holy Saviour, Saint Mary, and to St. John the Baptist. The first three churches were demolished between 1490 and 1492. The construction of the new cathedral began in 1491. Meo del Caprino, designed it and completed the construction in seven years. The pre-existing bell tower, was preserved. Filippo Juvarra modified the tower in the 17th century.

In 1649 a project to enlarge the cathedral was prepared, to create a more impressive seat for the Holy Shroud. In 1667 Guarino Guarini was invited to complete the project. The construction of the dome took 28 years: it was completed in 1694. The reliquary in which the Shroud of Turin is kept