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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint Charles Borromée de Bastia, also known as San Carlu, is an emblematic monument of the Terravechja district. It is considered the first Baroque church in Corsica, an architectural style propagated by the Jesuits. Its history is intimately linked to the arrival of this religious order in Corsica in the sixteenth century, founded by Ignace de Loyola in 1540. The Jesuits, concerned with evangelization and education, played a key role in the Counter-Reform and dissemination of education in Europe. Their presence in Bastia dates back to 1552-1553, when two Jesuit fathers, Silvestro Landini and Emanuel Gomes, were sent to found a college.

The building of the complex, including a college and a church dedicated to Saint Ignace de Loyola, began in 1612 and ended in 1635. This college, still in operation today as Simon Vinciguerra College, is the oldest in Corsica. The church, originally dedicated to Saint Ignace, was renamed after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1769, becoming the church of Saint-Charles-Borromée under the aegis of the eponymous brotherhood. It was listed as a historic monument in 2007, after restoration work that allowed its reopening in 2017.

The facade of the church is typical of the Jesuit style, inspired by the Gesù church in Rome, with two levels of pilasters and a triangular pediment framed by volutes. Inside, the 17th century stuccos are still visible, although the central medallion, originally representing Saint Ignace, was modified to include Saint Charles Borromée after 1769. The building also houses the tombs of local personalities, such as Domenico Maria Spinola, former Dog of Genoa and Governor of Corsica, as well as Monsignor Mascardi, Bishop of Nebbiu.

The church is also the scene of significant historical events. In 1814 it was the site of an insurrection against Napoleon, where a Committee of Public Salvation proclaimed the secession of Corsica with France. More recently, in 1971, the first Mass in the Corsican language was celebrated by Canon Sauveur Casanova, the future bishop of Corsica. These elements underline its religious, cultural and political importance in the history of Bastia and Corsica.

The vicinity of the church includes notable heritage features, such as the Jesuit fountain, which has been restored several times since 1574, and the former Jesuit convent, which is now part of Simon Vinciguerra College. These vestiges bear witness to the lasting influence of the Jesuits in the city, both educationally and architecturally.

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