The Plague in 1630

Due to the protagonism of Duke Carlo Emanuele 1, the first half of the XVII century was a period of continuous military mobilizations and serious economic crises. Furthermore there was famine and plague.The latter arrived in Chieri at the end of June and it reached its maximum virulence between July and September of 1630, causing thousands of victims. The impotent Town Council and the Health Authorities called upon God for help and in 1634 a chapel to honour the Virgin Mary of Grace was erected inside the Cathedral. In 1757 the chapel was enlarged and transformed by Bernardo Antonio Vittone.