Chiesa di Sant'Ilario

The current church is fruit of the restoration carried out during the mid-19th century by Arborio Mella. Inside, the three naves are divided by round arches and above the high altar is a luminous dome. All with lines that we could call “classic”. The façade was terminated in 1891 and presents the typical shapes of neo-Renaissance architecture.

Inside the Church, on the left is chapel del Carmine with a lovely baroque altar surrounded by a fine balustrade. In the apse area two canvases by Nicolò Musso (painter from Casale from Caravaggio’s school). Four medallions depicting S. Luigi, San Rocco, S. Teresa d’Avila and S. Alberto feature at the dome impost.

The sacristy is home to many relics including the copy of the Holy Shroud. It is a sheet dating from the 17th century on which are faithfully produced the signs impressed on the Shroud in Turin. This copy was commissioned by the Franciscan Friar Bonaventura Rellio and was carried out on Muslin in Turin in 1643 by an anonymous author; using the tracing technique, he faithfully copied the figure, shadows, stains and burns visible on the Shroud, the sheet which wrapped the body of Christ in the sepulchre, today housed in the Cathedral of Turin. The overlapping of the two canvases has conferred holiness to the new canvas making it a relic. Friar Rellio, born in Palazzolo, but of Irish origin, had had the copy of the Shroud made as a gift to send to his Catholic brothers in Ireland, but falling serious ill was unable to accomplish this. In 1655, realizing he could no longer personally deliver the copy of the Shroud, he gave it to two of his Irish brothers who, alas, were never able to transfer the copy to Ireland. It was housed in the Church of Santa Maria del Tempio and after ups and downs and several transitions, by intercession of the Bishop of Casale Monsignor Francesco Alciati (1817/1828) the canvas was delivered to the Church of Sant'Ilario to be housed and exhibited for public devotion.