Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice (Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians), Turin
Nestled in the historic Valdocco district of Turin, the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice) stands as a striking testament to 19th-century faith and architecture. Conceived by Saint John Bosco, the basilica was built between 1865 and 1868-its foundation stone laid on 27 April 1865 in the presence of Prince Amedeo di Savoia-and was consecrated later that year in 1868. The design, crafted by Antonio Spezia, draws inspiration from the façade of Venice’s San Giorgio Maggiore, reflecting a graceful Neoclassical style.
This sacred place was not merely a church but part of Bosco’s larger vision-a hub for the Salesian mission that would cradle the activities of the oratory and school for disadvantaged youth in the Valdocco area. Above its altar resides a revered painted image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Mary Help of Christians.” Pope Leo XIII granted a canonical coronation to this image on 13 February 1903, with the coronation ceremony performed by Cardinal Agostino Richelmy on 17 May 1903.
In 1911, Pope Pius X raised the shrine to the status of a minor basilica, further solidifying its importance. Within the basilica’s nave lie the tombs of key figures in Salesian and Catholic history: Saint John Bosco himself, Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello, Saint Dominic Savio, and Saint Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo, as well as the resting place of Bosco’s mother, the venerable Margherita Occhiena.
Beneath the main floor, in the crypt, are the tombs of Blessed Michele Rua, Filippo Rinaldi, and Giovanni Melchiorre Calosso-leaders who continued Bosco’s work-and a remarkable collection of some six thousand relics of various Catholic saints. For visitors, the combination of rich history, architectural elegance, and spiritual resonance offers a deeply moving experience. Whether you are drawn by its devotional significance or its cultural legacy, the Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice is a must-visit landmark in Turin.
This sacred place was not merely a church but part of Bosco’s larger vision-a hub for the Salesian mission that would cradle the activities of the oratory and school for disadvantaged youth in the Valdocco area. Above its altar resides a revered painted image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Mary Help of Christians.” Pope Leo XIII granted a canonical coronation to this image on 13 February 1903, with the coronation ceremony performed by Cardinal Agostino Richelmy on 17 May 1903.
In 1911, Pope Pius X raised the shrine to the status of a minor basilica, further solidifying its importance. Within the basilica’s nave lie the tombs of key figures in Salesian and Catholic history: Saint John Bosco himself, Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello, Saint Dominic Savio, and Saint Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo, as well as the resting place of Bosco’s mother, the venerable Margherita Occhiena.
Beneath the main floor, in the crypt, are the tombs of Blessed Michele Rua, Filippo Rinaldi, and Giovanni Melchiorre Calosso-leaders who continued Bosco’s work-and a remarkable collection of some six thousand relics of various Catholic saints. For visitors, the combination of rich history, architectural elegance, and spiritual resonance offers a deeply moving experience. Whether you are drawn by its devotional significance or its cultural legacy, the Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice is a must-visit landmark in Turin.
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Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice (Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians) on Map
Sight Name: Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice (Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians)
Sight Location: Turin, Italy (See walking tours in Turin)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Turin, Italy (See walking tours in Turin)
Sight Type: Religious
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