San Carlo Borromeo, Turin, Baroque church in Piazza San Carlo, Turin, Italy.
San Carlo Borromeo is a baroque church on Piazza San Carlo in Turin, with a central nave, side chapels, and marble altars. Its facade closely mirrors that of Santa Cristina, the church standing at the other end of the square.
Building work started in 1619 under Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy and was first completed in 1625. The structure was then reworked several times over the following centuries, with the current facade finished only in 1834.
The church is named after Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century archbishop of Milan known for his closeness to ordinary people. Inside, the paintings and altars dedicated to him reflect how his memory has stayed alive in the religious life of the city.
The church is open daily and is best visited outside of service times, when the interior and its artworks can be seen without interruption. Opening times can vary depending on masses and events, so checking ahead before your visit is a good idea.
San Carlo Borromeo and Santa Cristina were designed as a pair to frame the two sides of the square, an unusual town planning idea for 17th-century Turin. What many visitors do not know is that the two churches once swapped names, with San Carlo originally being called Santa Cristina.
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