San Carlo ai Catinari

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San Carlo ai Catinari is an early-Baroque style church in Rome.

The attribute ai Catinari refers to the presence, at the time of its construction, of many dishmaker shops in the same street of the church. The church was commissioned by the Order of the Barnabites and funded by the Milanese community in Rome to honour their fellow Milanese San Carlo Borromeo. It is one of at least three Roman churches dedicated to San Carlo, including San Carlo al Corso and San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (San Carlino). The main design was by Rosato Rosati between 1612-20. The drab, travertine façade was designed by Giovanni Battista Soria and construction occurred during 1635-38.

[edit] Interior

The chorus in the apse has canvases depicting San Carlo (1620) by Guido Reni and Andrea Commodi, as well as a Miracle of San Biagio (1669) by Cerrini. Behind the facade are frescoes by Gregorio and Mattia Preti, showing episodes from the Life of San Carlo (1642). The spandrels of the cupola are frescoed with the Cardinal Virtues (1627-30) by Domenichino. The bronze crucifix in the sacristy is attributed to Algardi and Christ derided (1598) by D'Arpino.

The first chapel on the right has an Annunciation (1624) by Lanfranco; in the second chapel, there is a Martyrdom of San Biagio by Giacinto Brandi; and in the third, an altarpiece of Santa Cecilia by Antonio Gherardi.

The second chapel on the left has an altarpiece depicting the Martyrdom of Santa Anna by Sacchi. The third chapel was designed by Paolo Marucelli with frescoes of the Persian Martyrdoms (1641) by Romanelli and lunettes by Giacinto Gimignani.