Chiesa di San Luca (Church of St. Luke), Genoa

The Church of Saint Luke stands as a hidden gem of Ligurian Baroque architecture. Originally founded in 1188 by the powerful Spinola family on land owned by the Grimaldi, it was built atop an earlier Romanesque church. By the mid-17th century, under the direction of architect Bartolomeo Bianco, the medieval structure was transformed into the elegant Baroque church visible today, complete by around 1650.

Inside, the church is laid out in a Greek-cross plan with a bright dome at its center, surrounded by a rich display of frescoes, sculptures, and altarpieces. The dome and interior walls are decorated with vivid frescoes by Domenico Piola, enhanced by illusionistic architectural details painted by Antonio Maria Haffner. Notable sculptures include Filippo Parodi’s 1649 “Immaculate Conception with Angels” carved in white Carrara marble, along with his 1680 wooden piece depicting the “Deposition of Christ”.

The church also features notable works by prominent Baroque artists. Among them is Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione who painted a Nativity in 1645 that is considered one of his most important pieces. Other highlights include a wooden crucifix crafted by Francesco Fanelli in 1609 and a 15th-century tabernacle that survives from the original Romanesque structure.