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Waldensian Temple

Torino / Italy
Waldensian temple Turin
  • Church

The Temple, designed by the architect Luigi Formento, is an example of neo-Gothic style on the outside with neo-Renaissance influences on the inside. This is a fairly unusual building in the urban panorama of Turin. At the center of the façade there is a large rose window, as per the Gothic tradition, and on the two sides two very high polygonal towers. The plan of the Waldensian Temple of Turin has three naves with two columns of round arches resting on columns in Corinthian style.

Before 1848, Waldensian people of Turin were not allowed to live in the city and celebrate their cults. Religious functions were celebrated in the Chapel of the Protestant Legations in the Embassy of Prussia, thanks to the intervention of a minister of the Prussian King. In 1700 in Turin a foreign community of Protestant confession used to live, mainly formed by soldiers and traders, who sometimes housed Waldensian ministers who came from the Valleys to officiate cults; this was a reason for complaining both by Catholic Church and by merchants from Turin, who did not appreciate the presence of foreign competitors. Finally, on February 17th 1848, the Patent Letters were issued, and the small Waldensian community of Turin had the opportunity to build their own temple, provided that it did not resemble a church and that it was financed by the members of the community themselves.
On the initiative of Colonel Charles Beckwith it was decided to build the temple in a central location of the city, so it was built in the San Salvario area, along the King Avenue (known today as Corso Vittorio Emanuele II).

Waldensian Temple
Corso VIttorio
Torino
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Waldensian temple Turin
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Waldensian temple Turin
Waldensian temple Turin
Waldensian temple Turin
Waldensian temple Turin
Waldensian temple Turin

Additional touristic information

Information

Short info

The Waldensian temple was built in 1848 by the Waldensian community. Before 1848 Waldensian were not allowed to live in the city and celebrate their cults. After the “patent letter” the Waldensian community was granted to build their temple.

Geography

Is located in Turin, it cover 846 m2 and Turin has a population of 886.837 people (2017).

Sights

The temple is located in the capital city of Piedmonte, Turin. The Waldensian community has built this building in the 1848 after the.

Events

All events are available at the link below: https://www.torinovaldese.org/culti-del-mese/

Accessibility

Road transport

The temple is not too far from the “Torino Porta Nuova” Train station (5 min by walk). You can leave the car in the park next to the station.

Train

Torino Porta Nuova train station is an 5 minute walk to the Waldensian temple

Bus transport

The line 18 and 68 of GTT (Turin public transport) stop next to the church

Airport

Turin Caselle Airport is located to the North West of Turin. However is about 18 kilometers away to the city center.

Our heritage

Historic buildings

The Waldensian Church could not reside in Turin until 1849, the year in which the Turin congregation became attached to the Church of the Waldensian Valleys. In the previous year, King Carlo Alberto had issued the royalties (which gave full civil and political rights to the Waldenses) and introduced freedom of worship into the Constitution of the Kingdom. The Temple, designed by the architect Luigi Formento, is an example of neo-Gothic style on the outside with neo-Renaissance influences on the inside. This is a fairly unusual building in the urban panorama of Turin. At the center of the façade there is a large rose window, as per the Gothic tradition, and on the two sides two very high polygonal towers. The plan of the Waldensian Temple of Turin has three naves with two columns of round arches resting on columns in Corinthian style.

Natural attractions

Close to the Waldensian temple there is a “Parco del Valentino” which was the park of the Castle with the same name. Is located along the west bank of the Po river , 8 minute walk by the Waldensian church.

Availability

Open from: Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: free
Denomination: Waldensian temple
Professional guidance: In the church there are some volunteer will explain the history and some curiosity about the place.
Phone: 011.6692838 e-mail: segreteria@torinovaldese.org
Architectural style: neo-Romanesque
Type: Church

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