Turin, Italy - In 1911, on the initiative of some Salesian past pupils, the idea came to erect a monument to Don Bosco in the square in front of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco, to mark the centenary of the birth of the founder of the Salesians which would fall in 1915. The work was to be inaugurated on 16 August, 1915, but because of the First World War the inauguration was postponed until 1920, although the statue was already in place on 23 June 1916.

Six scenes are depicted in the base supporting the statue highlighting devotion to Mary Help of Christians.