SURROUNDED by the western Alps, France, Switzerland and the sea: Piedmont, acting as a cross-roads of culture and civilizations, has always been a border region and a passage between the Mediterranean and Europe.
This is still the case today. Strong traces of Roman civilization remain, together with French language and culture from the valleys of the Walser language to the culture of the langue d'oc.

This "road to Europe", was travelled across by merchant routes, armies and pilgrims.
The ancient "via Francigena", stretching from Canterbury to Rome, ran through Piedmont. Abbeys, sanctuaries, and hostels (the symbol for Susa is the famous Sacra di S. Michele, an abbey overlooking the valley) flourished along the route.

Religious tradition, still active today, has produced precious architectural and artistic works, from sacred mounts (Varallo, Crea, Orta) to the sanctuaries (Oropa, Vicoforte), cathedrals and basilicas in the main towns.

Art, monuments and religious traditions, but also culture, technology and business enterprise are united in today's Piedmont alongside other attractions offered in an ever-present ambience of hospitality and welcome.

URIN became the country's capital city in the second half of the sixteenth century, when the Dukes of Savoy transferred the Court (and the Holy Shroud) to this side of the Alps.
Since then, Turin has become a full-fledged European city: a dynamic, artistic, cultural, political and industrial centre.

The great baroque architects - Castellamonte, Guarini and above all Juvarra - gave Turin its unique and harmonious urban fabric befitting to a capital city, much of which may still be seen today.

It is Guarino Guarini who built the Royal Chapel of the Holy Shroud. The Chapel is between the Cathedral and the Royal Palace, and the shroud has been kept there since 1694.
The historic city centre and the Savoy residences and churches (Stupinigi, Superga, Venaria, Valentino ... ) provide a fascinating itinerary to rediscover the important works of European culture and art.

Today, Turin is both an industrial city and a centre for research with institutions such as the Polytechnic and the University. It has the charm of a baroque city alongside modern attractions comprising international exhibitions such as the Motor Show, Book Fair, art and industry exhibitions, and concerts.

But Turin also has its "Saints". In the mid-1800s Don Bosco's Salesians began their work in Valdocco, to then export this torinese "style" to the other continents. During the same period, other great saints of Turin - Cottolengo, Cafasso and Murialdo - founded charities and dedicated their lives to the service of the poor.

URIN became the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in the sixteenth century. During this period, religious life in the capital was closely linked to political and social life. With the building of new churches, sanctuaries, and places of worship, the new capital and the land comprising the duchy grew and expanded together.

Exhibitions and events illustrating the city's religious dimension will take place in Turin and Piedmont during the period (Spring 1988) in which the Holy Shroud will be on display.

All churchers open

For the first time all the city's historic churches will be opened contemporaneously, and it will be possible to view all the restoration work carried out for the exposition. Guides and interactive aids will be available. Exhibitions displaying objects of artistic and religious interest, and other cultural events, will be organized in some of the churches.

The history and geography of Piedmont

Fifteen itineraries have been arranged. They will follow the Shrouds journey and the pilgrim routes in Piedmont from the fifteenth - seventeenth centuries. These are one or two days trips aimed at discovering the principal places of worship (holy mounts, Marian sanctuaries and royal churches) and of popular piety.

Nineteen centuries of images

A superb exhibition of images and representations of the Holy Shroud will be laid on during the period of the exposition. All the images of the Holy Shroud will be on display, from fifteenth century engravings to paintings of later periods, the photograph by Secondo Pia which revealed the "negative" of the face, right up to the most recent electronically processed images.