Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Royal Church of Saint Lawrence), Turin
The Royal Church of Saint Lawrence was born out of battlefield glory. On August 10, 1557-the Feast of Saint Lawrence-Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, defeated the French at the Battle of Saint-Quentin. With victory came the return of Turin and Savoy, and the duke marked the occasion by shifting his capital to Turin and commissioning a church for his patron saint.
The design eventually landed in the hands of Guarino Guarini, an architect who was never content with straight lines and safe choices. Between 1668 and 1687, he transformed the project into a masterclass of baroque ingenuity. The floor plan morphs as you move upward: square at the base, octagon above, then a Greek cross, and finally a circular dome stitched together by eight ribs. The dome itself is the real spectacle-interlacing arches form patterns that recall Islamic star motifs, topped by an octagonal lantern. When sunlight cuts through just right, locals swear you can see the unsettling outline of the so-called 鈥渇ace of the devil.鈥�
From Castle Square, the fa莽ade hardly announces the wonders inside, but once you step in, the space changes mood dramatically. Marble, gilding, and Guarini鈥檚 daring geometry conspire to overwhelm the eye in the best way possible. Saint Lawrence is more than a church: it鈥檚 a theatrical demonstration of the Savoys鈥� appetite for grandeur, staged in stone and light. For visitors, it鈥檚 a rare chance to see how power, faith, and a flair for geometry were fused into one unforgettable building.
The design eventually landed in the hands of Guarino Guarini, an architect who was never content with straight lines and safe choices. Between 1668 and 1687, he transformed the project into a masterclass of baroque ingenuity. The floor plan morphs as you move upward: square at the base, octagon above, then a Greek cross, and finally a circular dome stitched together by eight ribs. The dome itself is the real spectacle-interlacing arches form patterns that recall Islamic star motifs, topped by an octagonal lantern. When sunlight cuts through just right, locals swear you can see the unsettling outline of the so-called 鈥渇ace of the devil.鈥�
From Castle Square, the fa莽ade hardly announces the wonders inside, but once you step in, the space changes mood dramatically. Marble, gilding, and Guarini鈥檚 daring geometry conspire to overwhelm the eye in the best way possible. Saint Lawrence is more than a church: it鈥檚 a theatrical demonstration of the Savoys鈥� appetite for grandeur, staged in stone and light. For visitors, it鈥檚 a rare chance to see how power, faith, and a flair for geometry were fused into one unforgettable building.
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Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Royal Church of Saint Lawrence) on Map
Sight Name: Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Royal Church of Saint Lawrence)
Sight Location: Turin, Italy (See walking tours in Turin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Turin, Italy (See walking tours in Turin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Turin, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Turin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Turin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Coffee, Food and Chocolate Tour in Turin
Among other things, the capital of Italy's Piedmont region 鈥� Turin 鈥� is well known for its rich culinary tradition, which includes long-standing coffee and chocolate culture. There are several cafes and coffee houses in the city that have been in business for hundreds of years.
The most notable of them are found in the historic heart of the city, such as the Caff猫 al Bicerin.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
The most notable of them are found in the historic heart of the city, such as the Caff猫 al Bicerin.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Turin Introduction Walking Tour
Mark Twain once wrote that Turin鈥檚 streets are 鈥渆xtravagantly wide鈥� and its houses stretch 鈥渁s straight as an arrow鈥�-and he was not exaggerating.
Turin's story begins with the Taurini, a Celtic tribe whose name is tied to the word for 鈥渕ountain.鈥� They lived at the foot of the Alps before the Romans arrived. In 28 BC, the Romans founded Taurinorum here, designing it in their... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Turin's story begins with the Taurini, a Celtic tribe whose name is tied to the word for 鈥渕ountain.鈥� They lived at the foot of the Alps before the Romans arrived. In 28 BC, the Romans founded Taurinorum here, designing it in their... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles