I cani di San Domenico

Strange buildings around the church of San Domenico

Address:

- Via F.Campana 24
10122 - Centre
Turin

Nearest Bus or Train:

13, 15

Open Hours:

Not available

The church of San Domenico was the seat of the Inquisition during the 13th century. The most persecuted families were the Valdesi and the Templari who also had houses and churches in the city. The small door through which those suffering the attentions of the inquisitors had to pass still exists on one side of the building. If they were lucky enough to survive, they exited through a door on the other side that no longer exists. Next to the church are three buildings decorated with sculptures in the form of animal heads on the facades. One of the three is decorated with dogs' heads. One attempt at an explanation is that the word "Domenicani" (Dominicans) is derived from 2 terms meaning "the dogs of the Lord" or the "house of dogs".

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