San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane travel guide

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (also called San Carlino) is a church in Rome, commissioned in 1634, designed by architect Francesco Borromini (1599-1667) and constructed during the period 1638-1641.
It is an iconic masterpiece of Baroque architecture, built as part of a complex of buildings on the Quirinal Hill for the patron Cardinal Barberini. It is one of at least three churches in Rome dedicated to San Carlo, including San Carlo ai Catinari and San Carlo al Corso.
The tight geometric complexity of interlocking ovals and circles creates spaciousness in the small corner church, which stands a stone's throw from the Palazzo Barberini (windows designed by Borromini) and piazza. It is also down the street from rival Gian Lorenzo Bernini's oval Sant'Andrea al Quirinale.
The unusual cross-shaped floor plan optimises the use of the cramped and difficult site. The concave-convex facade of San Carlo undulates in a non-classic way. Tall corinthian columns interrupt entablatures. Idiosyncratic winged hemi-cherubim are used to frame niches of statues, the main one of Saint Charles Borromeo by Antonio Raggi. On the sides are statues of St. John of Matha and St. Felix of Valois, the founders of the Trinitarian Order. The corner fountain is a depiction of recumbent Neptune.
The dome of the church measures 25.80m by 16.25m and is decorated with a complex geometric pattern of coffers of crosses, ovals, octagons and hexagons. The upper lantern shows clouds opening to show a descending white dove, symbol of purity of spirit, redemption, cleansing renewal and peace. The floor plan is a heady intersection of ovals. (...) more....

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