San Carlo al Lazzaretto, Milan, Renaissance church in Porta Venezia district, Milan, Italy
San Carlo al Lazzaretto is an octagonal Renaissance church in the Porta Venezia district of Milan, with eight sides framed by Ionic stone columns and Serlian windows. A central dome with a lantern sits above the structure, visible from the surrounding area of the former Lazaretto.
Construction began in 1558 on the orders of Archbishop Carlo Borromeo, placing the church at the center of Milan's Lazaretto, a large complex built to care for plague patients. The work was completed in 1592, after the archbishop's death.
The name Carlo Borromeo refers to the archbishop who became a symbol of care during the plague years in Milan. Inside, the plain interior still reflects the original purpose of serving both those who were healthy and those who were ill.
The church is generally open daily, but visiting hours are limited and the interior may not be accessible during services. Arriving early in the morning gives a better chance of entering without waiting.
The original plan included open arcades on all sides of the church so that patients lying in the surrounding porticos could follow the Mass without entering the building. This meant that the same service could be attended by both the healthy and the sick without any direct contact between them.
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