The most striking church in Tortona is the Santurario Nostra Signora della Guardia. The huge basilica is unmistakably in Corso Don Orione. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard was built in 1931 at the request of Don Orione. Don Orione had made a name for the upbringing of young people and founded the first boarding school for young people in 1893. He was canonized in 1980.
In the basilica are the death dresses of the founder Orione, who was canonized in 2004. His coffin is made of glass and can be visited in the basilica.