Santuario della Consolata (Sanctuary of the Consolation), Turin

The Sanctuary of La Consolata is located at the intersection of Consolata and Carlo Ignazio Giulio Streets. It is a Marian sanctuary and minor basilica in central Turin. A church with a chapel and sacred icon of Mary stood there in the 5th century, adjacent to the city walls.

Legends of miracles of the icon of the Virgin began in the 12th century. The records say that in the 12th century, a vision of Mary appeared inside the church, and a blind pilgrim regained sight. Ex-votos (testimonials) inside the shrine document centuries of these occurrences.

Originally built as a basilica, the church was expanded several times. In 1678, Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours commissioned architect Guarino Guarini and engineer Antonio Bertola. They created the elliptical nave and added a hexagonal chapel for the venerated icon of Mary.

Architect Filippo Juvarra added two distinct axes featuring an altar and chapel. Painter Giovanni Battista Crosato decorated the dome. The neoclassical facade and burial crypt are the work of Pietro Anselmetti and Carlo Ceppi.

The interior is best described as jubilantly Rococo. It has colored marble and biblical-looking columns. The whole thing is eclectic. A Romanesque bell tower, Baroque domes, Gothic icons, and Neoclassic porticos all lead to a sort of Byzantine clash.