San Carlo al Corso

where: Via del Corso, 440, not far from the Spanish Steps and the Mausoleum of Augustus
open: 7:30-19:00 daily
getting there: a short walk from Piazza del Popolo, closest metro stop linea A/Spagna
important information: visiting the church during mass is not permitted

San Carlo al Corso is where my interest in the art in Rome's churches began, so I have a special fondness for this Baroque church on the Via del Corso. 

I remember the first time I walked inside when it was still being restored around 2006, looking at the marvelous ceiling, altarpieces, and marble and gold stucco and wondering who the artists might be that could create such a beautiful interior.
When we returned to Rome in 2013 the church restorations had been completed after twenty years of work and the true beauty of the church could be seen. 

The church was built in 1612 and dedicated to Saints Ambrose and Charles Borromeo.
The vault ceiling frescoes, the Fall of the Rebel Angels were painted by Giacinto Brandi between 1677 and 1679. Brandi also painted the transept vault and the cupola which was designed by Pietro da Cortona.

The large altarpiece of The Glory of Saints Charles and Ambrose is by Carlo Maratta and was painted between 1685 to 1690.
In the third chapel on the left (Chapel of Saint Olaf) is the Holy Family with Saints Ann and John the Baptist by Cristoforo Roncalli.

With a small donation, a DVD of the paintings and the church's history is available.
Guide books can be found in English, Italian, French and Spanish.

Carlo Maratta

Artists in San Carlo al Corso
Giacinto Brandi
Pietro da Cortona
Carlo Maratta
Cristoforo Roncalli
Luigi Garzi
Ludovico Gimignani
Fabrizio Chiari
il Morazzone
Giovanni Battista Benaschi
Girolamo Troppa
Francesco Rosa
Paolo Albertoni
Pier Francesco Mola
Pasquale de Rossi
Courtois
Tommaso Luini il Caravaggino
Agostino Cornacchini