Rivista MuseoTorino - Numero 8

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A protection from
the dangers of immorality
—
Oratories, nursing homes, schools,
churches and refectories:
Don Bosco’s buildings
Entire neighborhoods without churches and the presence
of well-rooted Protestant communities are the core
preoccupation of St. John Bosco.
His activity of “builder” takes place between a steady
population growth and a context of deep social
degradation. The common thread, shared by the
buildings strongly desired by St. John Bosco, is the
position in problematic districts.
Just before the mid-nineteenth century, if you moved
away from the center, Turin appeared dirty, smelly: only
the Little House of Divine Providence in Borgo Dora did
not reject anyone.
In 1859, the Salesian Society was founded and in 1863,
the Saint Francis of Sales Church turned out to be too
small. Therefore, a new design became necessary: on May
14th, 1864 A. Spezia presented the Project for the Church
dedicated to Maria Auxilium Christianorumwhich had to
be erected in Valdocco of Turin with the oblation of Divoti.
St. John Bosco pursued his project in San Salvario, which
was a working-class neighborhood and a cultural and
religious melting-pot.
However, at the other end of the spectrum the city
required a new church.
This was the reason why E. A. Mellea drew up a new draft.
The construction of the boarding school started in 1881 and
Mellea obviously chose a medieval revival architecture.
In this way it took place a kind of architectural promenade:
the different religious communities showcased their
cultural identity through different “outfits”. ■
His activity of “builder”
takes place between
a steady population growth
and a context of deep
social degradation
Tempio valdese
Simbolo dell’emancipazione
della comunità valdese ottenuta
dal re Carlo Alberto nel 1848,
il tempio in stile neogotico-
classicista venne edificato in
zona San Salvario, su progetto
dell’architetto Luigi Formento,
tra il 1851 e il 1853.
leggi su
Sinagoga
La sinagoga della comunità
ebraica, progettata da Enrico
Petiti in forme neomoresche e
situata nella zona di Porta Nuova,
nel quartiere di San Salvario,
fu inaugurata nel 1884.
leggi su
Chiesa di San Giovanni
Evangelista
La chiesa, su progetto di Edoardo
Arborio Mella, sorge, per volontà
di don Bosco, accanto all’oratorio
di San Luigi, nel borgo
San Salvario, popolato dai ceti
sociali più bassi.
leggi su
Maria Ausiliatrice.
Fotografia di Roberto Cortese,
2015. Archivio Storico della
Città di Torino.
Don Bosco costruttore
/ Don Bosco, the “builder”
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