Chiesa di San Giorgio (Church of St. George), Genoa

The Church of Saint George is a refined and elegant example of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture with deep medieval roots. The site has hosted a church or chapel dedicated to Saint George since at least the 10th century-possibly even earlier in the Byzantine era-and it was formally mentioned in documents as early as 964.

Over the centuries, it evolved from a small early-Age chapel to a parish church, undergoing a significant Baroque reconstruction in the 17th century by the Theatine order, which added its distinctive domed roof and expanded its classical form.

The church’s octagonal layout, crowned by a dome and framed by a softly curved façade, makes for a captivating first impression. A Neoclassical façade was added in the mid-19th century to complement the Baroque interior and the adjacent bell tower-originally part of a medieval structure. Inside, the church has a central layout with a dome that allows natural light to enter the space.

Visitors will be pleased to discover several captivating altarpieces and frescoes by Genoese masters. Highlights include Luca Cambiaso’s dramatic depictions of the "Martyrdom of Saint George", Domenico Guidobono’s "Christ and Saint Catherine", Domenico Piola’s "Saint Gaetano Receiving the Child", and a Renaissance-era "Pietà" by Alonso Sánchez Coello.