Church of San Carlo al Corso

The Church of San Carlo al Corso in Milan is a magnificent example of neoclassical architecture, located on the lively Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Built between 1832 and 1847, the church stands on the site of the ancient church of Santa Maria dei Servi, suppressed during the Napoleonic reforms. The new church was designed by the architect Carlo Amati, also known for the project of the facade of the Milan Cathedral, and was completed by Filippo Pizzagalli. The church was built as a thanksgiving for the cessation of a cholera epidemic and was dedicated to San Carlo Borromeo, a famous Milanese archbishop of the 16th century known for his efforts during the plague of 1576-1577. The choice of the patron saint reflects a clear intention to create a connection with the local tradition and with a symbolic figure of protection and assistance. The exterior of the church is dominated by an imposing portico with eight Corinthian columns reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome. This colonnade extends to the sides forming a square plaza, a welcoming area that introduces the faithful and visitors inside the church. The large dome, surmounting the cylindrical structure of the drum, is adorned with half-columns, windows, and niches, creating a visual effect of great harmony and balance. The interior is characterized by a circular hall with a diameter of 32.2 meters, surrounded by an annular colonnade in red granite that touches the walls, interspersed with exedrae forming side chapels. This structure once again evokes the Pantheon, but with a touch of Lombard elegance. At the center of the hall is the deep presbytery, adorned with a small dome and side columns, adding a sense of grandeur and solemnity. Among the works of art housed in the church, the wooden Crucifix by Pompeo Marchesi, a student of Antonio Canova, and a marble relief depicting San Carlo Borromeo giving first communion to San Luigi Gonzaga, also by Marchesi, stand out. These neoclassical masterpieces contribute to making the interior of the church a place of great artistic and spiritual value. The church’s bell tower, with its 72 meters in height, is the tallest in Milan, dominating the city’s skyline and serving as a reference point for the faithful and visitors. The presence of such a tall bell tower is significant, not only for its practical function but also as a symbol of the church’s presence in the Milanese urban context. In the post-war period, the church of San Carlo al Corso became a center of cultural and welfare activities under the guidance of charismatic figures such as Father David Maria Turoldo and Camillo De Piaz. They founded the association Corsia dei Servi, which was dedicated to support initiatives for orphans and other social activities, reflecting the church’s commitment not only as a place of worship but also as a center of service to the community.