Saint-Charles Church

Tucked away among the houses of Bastia, Saint-Charles Church was built in 1635 by the Jesuits. Originally dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, it changed names in 1769 when the Jesuits were expelled and was rededicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century Archbishop of Milan and cardinal of the Catholic Church. In 1814, the church became the backdrop for a key moment in Bastia’s history. It was here that Corsica’s secession from France was declared, and a call was made to restore the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom. The church still features classic Jesuit architecture, with a baroque layout inspired by the Church of the Gesù in Rome. On either side of the entrance, you’ll spot statues of Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Step inside if you’d like, the richly decorated interior has kept its original 17th-century stucco work, and it’s well worth a look. Before heading in, take a moment to look around. You’re standing on Jean Baptiste Caraffa Street, and to your left is the imposing Caraffa Palace. Built in 1612 by the Petroni family, it was greatly expanded 70 years later by Anton Bastiano Caraffa, a wealthy local figure who turned it into a grand aristocratic residence. Then in 1775, Giovan Battista de Caraffa, later mayor of Bastia, added even more to the building. It stayed in the Caraffa family until 2002, when it was handed over to the city. Thanks to its rich past and elegant architecture, the palace has been listed as a Historic Monument since 2009.