The church was built during the first half of the 13th century by Dominican friars, in gothic style.

[1][2] The adjacent convent was built in 1260 by Father John of Turin,[3] who also established a library within the complex, thus making Saint Dominic, at the time, one of the cultural centers of the city.

[1][3] Shortly afterwards, towards the end of the 13th century, Saint Dominic became the seat of the Inquisition Tribunal of Turin,[1] sentencing approximately 80 heretics to capital punishment throughout its existence.

[3][1] During the Black Death epidemic of Turin occurring in 1630, a steel grate was placed on the entrance of the church as to allow churchgoers to attend mass without entering the building itself.

[1] During the Napoleonic period, most of the relics and precious materials in the church went missing, and the building became the seat of a Masonic lodge.