San Domenico, church in Castiglione del Lago

San Domenico is a baroque church in the historic center of Castiglione del Lago, distinguished by its carefully designed details and warm stone tones. The interior features a rectangular layout with a central altar, wooden coffered ceiling in gold and blue tones, and sculpted figures positioned at the sides.

Fulvio II Alessandro della Corgna, last duke of Castiglione del Lago, had the church built in 1636 to fulfil a vow made to an image of Saint Dominic of Soriano Calabro for the recovery of his wife Eleonora de Alarcón y Mendoza from gangrene of the arm; the surgical instruments used are still kept. The Corgna held the town from 1563 to 1647, first as marquises, then as dukes. Fulvio had the remains of court poet Cesare Caporali moved here from the Augustinian church.

The church is tied to the Venerable Compagnia di San Domenico, whose confratelli still meet in the large sacristy, where relics are kept, including a bust of Saint Barbara given by Duchess Eleonora. The name comes from the vow made to the image of San Domenico di Soriano Calabro. In the chapel of the Salvatore, also called cimiteriale, many Castiglionesi were once buried.

The church is located on Via del Forte in the town center and is easily reached on foot. The interior offers a calm space for reflection, and the sacristy contains a small collection of local objects and restored works that you can view.

The surgical instruments kept in the sacristy relate to the 1636 healing of Duchess Eleonora de Alarcón y Mendoza, whose arm was saved after Duke Fulvio II Alessandro's vow to the image of Saint Dominic of Soriano Calabro. Her brother Andrea later gave the church a reliquary cross of rock crystal and ebony.