Consolata Sanctuary, Turin, Italy

Early Christian Origins (5th Century)

The Sanctuary of the Consolata has a deeply rooted history. Situated near the street of the same name, the basilica is built on the site of one of the Roman corner towers from the ancient Augusta Taurinorum city walls. In the 5th century, Bishop Massimo erected a small early Christian church dedicated to Saint Andrew, likely built upon the remains of a previous pagan temple. This church included a chapel devoted to the Virgin Mary, where an image of the Madonna was placed.

Transformation into an Abbey (11th Century)

By the turn of the millennium, the church became the seat of the Novalicense monks, who had fled the Susa Valley due to Saracen invasions. They oversaw the first major expansion, constructing a new Romanesque-style church with three naves, a southern cloister, and a bell tower, which remains today as the only surviving part of this early structure. The bell tower was built under the direction of Abbot Gezone of Breme and monk-architect Bruningo between 980 and 1014, making it the oldest architectural monument in Turin after Roman structures. Although legend suggests King Arduino contributed to the expansion in 1014, historical records credit the commissioning to Marquis Adalberto. The church’s history is documented in the Chronicon Novalicense and Cronica Fruttuaria from the 11th and 12th centuries.

The Alleged Miracle and the Elevation to a Basilica (12th Century)

The deep devotion to the sanctuary stems from a miraculous event involving an image of the Madonna. The original icon, now lost due to renovations, was reportedly rediscovered in 1104. A blind man from Briançon, Giovanni Ravacchio, claimed to have received the Madonna in a dream, directing him to find the image in the church’s basement. After persistent requests to the bishops, the icon was discovered, and Ravacchio regained his sight. This event led to the restoration of the church and its elevation to the status of a basilica. While there is no official documentation confirming the miracle, a plaque inside the church from 1595 suggests the event’s authenticity, quoting a parchment from 1104.

From Benedictines to Cistercians (15th and 16th Centuries)

In 1448, the Benedictine Order expanded the church, adding a bay toward the city walls. This change necessitated moving the main entrance to the side of the basilica. In 1584, an apostolic visitation by Monsignor Angelo Peruzzi noted the church’s decoration and the presence of a “Glorious Virgin” image surrounded by votive offerings. The Cistercian Order took over in 1589, remaining there for over two centuries.

First Phase of Baroque Expansion (17th and 18th Centuries)

The Baroque era brought significant changes to the sanctuary. In 1678, Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours entrusted architect Guarino Guarini with a major renovation. Guarini redesigned the central nave, creating a large elliptical space. He also added a hexagonal chapel to the north, topped with a dome similar to that of San Lorenzo Church. Though Guarini’s original design was modified by engineer Antonio Bertola in 1703 for structural reasons, the dome remained a striking feature.