Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta di Carignano

Genoa's Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta di Carignano is a Renaissance Greek-cross church designed by Galeazzo Alessi and later enriched with Baroque sculpture and painting.

Why it matters

The Sauli family's foundation brought a centrally planned church to Genoa, echoing Renaissance designs for Saint Peter's in Rome. Construction began in the mid-sixteenth century and continued into the early seventeenth. The basilica combines Alessi's geometric plan with later works by artists including Pierre Puget, Claude David and local painters.

What to notice

The church's central cube and four arms form a Greek cross beneath the main dome. Four smaller domes were planned, though only two of the corner bell towers were built. Marble statues by Pierre Puget occupy niches in the central piers; Claude David's Assumption has stood above the main portal since 1722. Works by Luca Cambiaso, Domenico Fiasella and Guercino, along with sculpture by Puget and Diego Carlone, form part of the interior decoration.

Context and history

Banker Bendinelli Sauli provided for the church's construction in the early 1480s. His heirs engaged Galeazzo Alessi in 1549, and the foundation stone was laid in 1552. The dome and lantern were completed in 1602. A bridge built in 1718 connected Carignano with Piazza Sarzano; the surrounding district was later redeveloped in the twentieth century. The basilica remains a major example of Renaissance architecture in Genoa.