Commissioned in 1730 for the Jesuit residence in Noto, the church of San Carlo al Corso is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo. Designed in all likelihood by architect Rosario Gagliardi, the building was crafted from local golden calcarenite stone and incorporates historical elements salvaged from the original settlement destroyed in the 1693 earthquake.
What to see
The exterior features a three-tiered façade marked by free-standing columns and a distinctive convex, mixed-line rhythm. Inside, the longitudinal plan comprises three aisles framed by semi-columns and covered by a barrel vault. Just inside the entrance, a curvilinear atrium echoes the concave form of the apse at the opposite end. The high altar and the church bell are the oldest artifacts present, both salvaged from the former Jesuit church of Noto Antica following the 1693 disaster.
Our editors' tip
Examine the three-tiered façade to see how the local golden calcarenite catches the light across the building's convex surfaces and free-standing columns.
