San Carlo al Corso

Sant'Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso (usually known simply as "San Carlo al Corso") is a basilica church in Rome, facing the central Via del Corso. It is dedicated to Saint Ambrose of Milan and Saint Charles Borromeo, also native of that city. It is one of at least three churches in Rome dedicated to this saint, including San Carlo ai Catinari and San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

The construction was begun in the occasion of the canonization of St. Charles Borromeo (1610), under the direction of Onorio Longhi and, after his death, of his son Martino. The site was that of the former church of "San Nicola de Tofo". The dome, resembling that of Santi Luca e Martina, was designed by Pietro da Cortona (1668), who was also responsible of the apse and of the rich internal decoration. The façade was designed by Cardinal Luigi Alessandro Omodei, who did not like the project prepared by Carlo Rainaldi.

The internal plan is on the Latin cross. The central vault is frescoed with a "Fall of the Rebel Angels" (1677–1679) by Giacinto Brandi. The altarpiece, depicting the Saints Ambrose and Charles, was painted around 1685-1690 by Carlo Maratta.

In the ambulatory behind the sanctuary, you will find a niche where a reliquary containing the heart of St Charles is kept. It was donated to the church in 1614 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, a cousin of the saint.

The 16th century oratory of St. Ambrose is beyond the left transept.

The second chapel on the right is dedicated to "Mary, Aid of Christians" (Maria Auxilium Christianorum) has an image of the Virgin donated by St Vincent Pallotti in the 19th century.

The third chapel on the right is dedicated to the Holy Family. On the left side of it is a depiction of "The Redemptor and Sts Ambrose and Charles" as well as the sepulchral monument of Federico Borromeo.

On the exterior, at the sides of the apse facing the Mausoleum of Augustus, are placed two giant statues of the titular saints, amongst the largest in Rome.

Chapel of St. Olav

The "Chapel of St Olav of Norway", left of the nave, is dedicated to the martyr king who was slain in the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, and who converted to Christianity. The chapel was inaugurated by Cardinal Lucido Maria Parocchi on 9 April 1893, on the 50th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated legally in Norway since the Reformation.

The painting, by Polish artist Pius Wleonski, depicts the Viking king's victory over his own pagan past, represented by a dragon. It was a gift, presented on March 3, 1893, to Pope Leo XIII for the 50th anniversary of his episcopal ordination. Bishop Fallize of Norway asked that it be placed in this chapel, and was unveiled by Baron Wedel Jarlsberg. The Holy Father supported the idea of a Norwegian chapel here in Rome.

A smaller picture on the altar shows St. Anne and her daughter, the Blessed Virgin. St Anne was a very popular saint in pre-Reformation Norway.

The relics of a Roman martyr, St. Saturninus, are interred in the altar. Nothing is known about him except his name.

The chapel was restored, and it was reinaugurated by Bishop Gran of Oslo in 1980. The initiative for this restoration came from Cecilie "Ciss" Riber-Mohn (who was not herself a Catholic, and who died in 1978, before the restoration was complete), Olga Térése "Olgese" Mowinckel Ringler and her Italian husband Andrea Ringler. Rieber-Mohn had also preserved the chapel in the 1960s, when there was talk about using it for other purposes.

Mass is celebrated in Norwegian at Christmas and on May 17 (Constitution Day), and many Norwegian ex-patriates, including non-Catholic, take part. Requiem masses are celebrated for Norwegians with connections to Rome. Norwegian pilgrim groups can make an appointment to celebrate Mass here, and at times tourist groups come here for ecumenical services.