Gran Madre di Dio, Neoclassical church by Po River, Turin, Italy
Gran Madre di Dio is a church in neoclassical style on the bank of the Po River in Turin. It has a portico with six Corinthian columns and a broad tympanum that links the building with the waterfront.
Construction started in 1818 to celebrate the return of King Victor Emmanuel I after the end of Napoleonic rule. The work was finished in 1831 after the plans had been revised by several architects.
The marble tympanum depicts the Virgin and Child receiving homage from Turin decurions, reflecting the city's religious and civic connections.
The church sits at the eastern end of the Vittorio Emanuele I bridge and you can walk here from the center. A short climb up the steps leads to the entrance under the colonnade.
Two statues frame the main staircase, one showing a figure holding a book and a chalice. These figures are sometimes linked with legends about the Grail, though their official interpretation represents Faith and Religion.
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