San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane |
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| Church of Saint Charles at the Four Fountains | |
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San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane
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Facade of Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane by Francesco Borromini
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| Location | 9A Via di Santa Prassede Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Language(s) | Italian |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Tradition | Roman Rite |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church, national church |
| Dedication | Charles Borromeo |
| Consecrated | 1646 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Francesco Borromini |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1638 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Width | 12 m (39 ft) |
The church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (which means Saint Charles at the Four Fountains) is also called San Carlino. It is a Roman Catholic church located in Rome, Italy. The famous architect Francesco Borromini designed it. This church was his very first project where he worked all by himself.
San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane is a fantastic example of Baroque architecture. It was built as part of a group of buildings for the Spanish Trinitarians. This group of monks worked to free Christian slaves. Borromini started working on the church in 1634. A powerful church leader, Cardinal Francesco Barberini, helped pay for it at first. His big palace was right across the street. But the money didn't last, and the building project faced many money problems. This church is one of at least three churches in Rome named after Saint Charles.
Contents
History of the Church
In the 1630s, the Trinitarian monks needed someone to build a church. They wanted it to connect to their monastery. Francesco Borromini offered to design the church for free. He wanted to start his career as an architect working alone.
First, the monastery buildings and a courtyard (called a cloister) were finished. Then, the church itself was built between 1638 and 1641. In 1646, it was officially named after Saint Charles Borromeo. Borromini probably thought of the wavy front (facade) of the church quite early on. But it was only built much later in his life. The very top part was not even finished until after he died.
The church and monastery are located at a special corner. This corner is known as the "Quattro Fontane" (Four Fountains). This name comes from the four fountains placed at an angle where two roads meet. Another famous church, Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, was later built nearby.
About the Architect
Francesco Borromini (1599–1667) came from a simple background. But he quickly became well-known by taking on small building jobs. After finishing San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, he became famous. People started calling him a "father" of Baroque architecture.
Borromini first became interested in building when he traveled to Milan. His father sent him there to watch stonecutting. This interest led to many years of learning about architecture and sculpture. He ended up owing his father a lot of money. To avoid this debt, Borromini went to Rome. There, he became a top student of the famous Italian architect Carlo Maderno.
Maderno and Borromini worked together on many huge buildings. These included St. Peter's Basilica and Palazzo Barberini. When Maderno passed away, Borromini began working as a solo Baroque architect.
Church Design
Outside the Church
The front of San Carlo church is very unique. It curves both inward (concave) and outward (convex). This wavy shape was very new for its time. Tall columns stand on bases and hold up the main parts of the building. These columns create two main levels and divide the front into three sections.
Between the large columns, smaller columns are placed. They frame openings for niches, windows, and sculptures. You can also see the main door and a special oval window at the top. This oval window once held a painting of the Holy Trinity. Above the main entrance, there are figures of angels. They frame a statue of Saint Charles Borromeo. On either side are statues of St. John of Matha and St. Felix of Valois. These two saints started the Trinitarian Order.
The church is built on a small and tricky piece of land. It is only about 66 feet wide and 39 feet long. This small space meant that a regular, straight design wouldn't work. Before the Baroque style became popular, buildings were often very rectangular. The Baroque style brought in curves and oval shapes. Borromini used these curves with square parts to fit the church into the unusual space. The curves also made the design more exciting. They created a sense of movement and played with light and shadows.
Inside the Church
The rise of Baroque architecture allowed Borromini to use his sculpture skills. He created surprising mixes of curves and straight shapes in his buildings. Many Baroque architects tried to make their designs fit the proportions of the human body. But Borromini was different. He based his designs on geometric shapes like circles and ovals.
The inside of the church is truly amazing and complex. You can see three main parts as you look up. There is the lower part at ground level. Then, there is a middle section with curved triangles (pendentives). Finally, there is the oval-shaped dome with its oval lantern at the very top.
In the lower part of the church, the main altar is straight across from the entrance door. There are also two other altars on the sides. One altar is for Saint Michael de Sanctis. The other is for Saint John Baptist of the Conception. Sixteen columns are arranged in groups of four around the space. They hold up a wide, continuous ledge. The way the columns are placed makes the church feel like a cross. But you can still see all the altars. This is because some columns are placed at an angle. This creates a wavy, moving effect. This feeling is made stronger by the different designs between the columns. These include niches, moldings, and doors.
The curved triangles (pendentives) are in the middle part of the church. They connect the wavy, cross-like shape of the lower part to the oval opening of the dome. The arches that rise from the angled columns frame the altars and entrance. They meet the oval ledge of the dome. This creates the space for the pendentives, where round decorations are placed.
The oval ledge of the dome has a "crown" of leaves. It frames a view of deep, interlocking shapes. These shapes are octagons, crosses, and hexagons. They get smaller as they go higher up. Light pours in from windows hidden by the oval opening of the dome. More light comes from windows in the sides of the lantern. The light is brightest at the top. The lantern, with its symbol of the Holy Trinity, is the most brightly lit. The shapes in the dome have strong shadows, making them stand out. The light then slowly filters down to the darker lower part of the church.
Next to the main altar, there are two identical doorways. The door on the right leads to the monastery. From there, you can go down to the crypts below. The door on the left leads to a small outside chapel. This chapel is called Capella Barberini. It holds a special place for blessed Elisabeth Canori Mora.
Crypt
The crypt is a space below the church. It has the same size and shape as the church above. It has a low, arched ceiling with openings. Several small chapels open off this main space. One of these is an eight-sided chapel on the southeast side. Borromini had planned to be buried here himself. It has both large and small niches and a wavy ledge around the top.
Cloister
Next to the church is the cloister, which is a two-story courtyard. It is longer than it is wide. But its rectangular shape is broken by cut corners. So, it can also be seen as a long, eight-sided shape. It gets even more complex with the way the twelve columns are spaced. They hold up openings that are sometimes round and sometimes flat at the top. The corners are curved, and the railing is very creative. Geometric patterns are seen throughout. This includes the eight-sided well in the center, which sits on an oval base. The tops of the upper columns are also eight-sided.
Behind the church, there was once a dining hall (refectory). It is now the sacristy (a room where priests prepare). It has rounded corners and an arched ceiling. Windows face the garden. Some changes were made to this room later on.
See also
- History of early modern period domes
