Tower observatory of the Turin Cathedral

The Turin Cathedral (Duomo di Torino or Cattedrale di San Giovanni Battista) is a church in Turin built at the end of the 15th century. It hosted the Shroud of Turin from 1578, when it was moved from the Holy Chapel (Sainte Chapelle) in Chambéry, to 1649, when the Chapel of the Holy Shroud (Cappella della Sacra Sindone) next door was completed. It currently hosts it again since the fire of the chapel in 1997.

The cathedral has a bell tower (Torre campanaria), separate from the main body, which can be visited. It is quite high (63 m) and offers a great view on the city of Turin and the surrounding mountains. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of the Diocesan Museum of Turin (Museo Diocesano di Torino), on the other side of the cathedral from the tower. After that, there is an underground passage to reach the tower then stairs to get to the top.

Above, the Turin Cathedral.

Above, the bell tower.

Above, coming from the Diocesan Museum.

Above, Royal Palace and Piazza Castello from the top of the tower.

Above, Palazzo Madama, a museum.

Above, dome of the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

Above, the observatory is open air.

Above, looking north.

Above, Porta Palatina.

Above, archeological digs below. The cathedral was built at the place where the theatre of the ancient Roman city used to be.

Above, model photoshoot in the garden of the Royal Palace.

Above, dome of Mole Antonelliana to the east. It also has a great observatory.

Above, Campus Luigi Einaudi of the University of Turin, designed by Foster + Partners.

Above, bell.

Above, dome of Basilica Mauriziana.

Above, Mercato Centrale.

Above, Grattacielo Intesa Sanpaolo in the background.

Above, looking west towards the Susa Valley.

Above, ceiling.

Above, looking south.

Above, looking towards Allianz Stadium (the white things on the right), where the Juventus football team play their games.

Above, Alps.

Above, the cathedral.

Above, Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Cappuccini.

Above, Torre Littoria and dome of Chiesa di San Lorenzo.

Above, dome of Chiesa dell’Arciconfraternita della Santissima Trinità.

Above, tramway.

Above, Basilica di Superga.

Above, going down.

Below, photos of the inside of the main building of the Turin Cathedral.

Above, entering the cathedral.

Above, glass wall towards the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

Above, the Shroud of Turin is conserved there.

Above, confessional.

Above, stoup.

Above, below the dome of the cathedral.

Above, the tower seen from Porta Palatina.