San Giuseppe, Baroque church in central Turin, Italy

San Giuseppe is a baroque church on via Santa Teresa 22, between via dei Mercanti and via San Francesco di Assisi, built by Carlo Emanuele Lanfranchi from about 1681. It has a Latin-cross plan, a dome with a cylindrical lantern over the transept, and a facade redone in 1909 by Giuseppe Ferrari d'Orsara. Inside are the altarpiece Transito di San Giuseppe by Sebastiano Taricco and two statues, La Maddalena and San Giovanni Battista.

The church was built by remodelling the older church of the Monastery of the Mothers of the Most Holy Crucifix, with work beginning around 1681 to designs by Carlo Emanuele Lanfranchi, after the Ministers of the Sick settled in Turin. The high altar commissioned by Giovanni Battista Trucchi di Levaldigi dates from 1696. Giovanni Battista Alberoni's original facade frescoes, painted to imitate architecture, were erased in 1854, and Giuseppe Ferrari d'Orsara rebuilt the facade in 1909.

The church belongs to the Ministers of the Sick, who settled in Turin before work began around 1681. Its name honours Saint Joseph, and the high altarpiece by Sebastiano Taricco shows his Transit, or death. Two statues, the Magdalene and John the Baptist, stand out inside.

The church stands at via Santa Teresa 22, between via dei Mercanti and via San Francesco di Assisi, a short walk from the city centre. It is an active place of worship, so visits may be interrupted by services. Look for the main altar commissioned by Giovanni Battista Trucchi di Levaldigi, dated 1696, and the two statues of the Maddalena and John the Baptist.

The facade seen today is not the original: Giovanni Battista Alberoni's frescoes imitating false architecture were erased in 1854, and Giuseppe Ferrari d'Orsara rebuilt the facade in 1909. Inside, the main altar commissioned by Giovanni Battista Trucchi di Levaldigi dates from 1696.