San Carlo Borromeo, Ferrara

San Carlo Borromeo is a baroque church in Ferrara with a distinctive facade featuring four niches containing statues of saints and angels holding heraldic shields. The interior features a ceiling with frescoes from the 17th century depicting religious scenes in a central roundel.

An architect designed this church between 1612 and 1623 to replace an earlier structure located near a hospital in the city. The building sustained earthquake damage in 2012 but underwent major restoration work in the following years.

The church is named after a canonized saint known for his charitable work, a figure whose devotion runs deep in this region. You can see artworks throughout the interior that celebrate his life and spiritual legacy, showing how central he was to local religious identity.

Access to the church is straightforward, located on a well-known street in the city and easy to reach from most directions. Plan to spend enough time to appreciate the ceiling artwork and facade details without feeling rushed.

A remarkable polychrome terracotta statue from the late 1500s by a local sculptor occupies a niche at the left altar. This sculpture is among the oldest artworks in the building and showcases the craftsmanship of that era.

Location: Ferrara

Inception: 1612

Architects: Giovan Battista Aleotti

Architectural style: baroque architecture

Address: corso Giovecca 19 ‒ Ferrara (FE)

GPS coordinates: 44.83780,11.62080

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21