Saint Charles at the Four Fountains

Saint Charles at the Four Fountains (San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane) is a 17th century Roman Catholic church in Rome, Italy, designed by Francesco Borromini and celebrated as a landmark of Baroque architecture. It occupies a small triangular plot at the intersection of streets near the Quirinal Hill.

The church is notable for its undulating façades, an intricately modeled oval interior and a coffered dome that demonstrate inventive use of a very confined site. The building’s small scale concentrates elaborate spatial and sculptural details which attract study by students of architecture and visitors interested in Baroque design.

Construction and decoration were carried out in the mid 1600s for the Spanish Trinitarian order, with Borromini responsible for the design and execution that produced the church’s distinctive curved geometry. Over subsequent centuries the church has been preserved as an important example of 17th century Roman architecture.

The church stands on the Quirinal/Trinità dei Monti area of central Rome, close to other historic landmarks and within walking distance of the city’s main historic core. It is located at a busy urban junction rather than in an open square.

• Architect and period: Designed and executed by the architect Francesco Borromini and built in the mid 17th century, the church is a key example of Roman Baroque architecture on a very constrained urban site.
• Compact Baroque interior: The interior is compact and highly articulated, with an oval plan and a small coffered dome that concentrate ornament in a limited footprint.