The Church of Santa Chiara d’Albaro is a little-known masterpiece of Genoese sacred architecture that deserves to be discovered and appreciated. Built in the 17th century, this church has a simple but elegant facade that hides an interior of rare beauty.The interior of the Church of Santa Chiara d’Albaro is completely frescoed by the most prestigious exponents of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Genoese painting, such as Giovanni Andrea Carlone and Domenico Piola. These frescoes depict scenes from the life of St. Clare and other saints, and are characterized by a skillful use of color and light.The Church of Santa Chiara d’Albaro is also enriched by numerous canvases by renowned artists, such as Luca Cambiaso and Bernardo Castello. These works of art, which blend perfectly with the church’s architecture, depict biblical and historical scenes, and are examples of great pictorial mastery.There are 14 holes in the vault of the church, which served to inacanalise sound and enhance it through the system of acoustic vessels. This system, which was typical of Genoese churches, allowed the sound of instruments and voices to be amplified, creating a particularly striking sound effect.Finally, the atrium of the Church of Santa Chiara d’Albaro holds one of the most spectacular Genoese risseu, which is a large marble carpet decorated with geometric and plant designs. The cartoons for the creation of this splendid carpet were designed by Domenico Fiasella, one of the most important Genoese painters of the seventeenth century.In summary, the Church of Santa Chiara d’Albaro represents an extraordinary example of Genoese art and sacred architecture, which deserves to be visited to admire the beauty of its frescoes, paintings and architectural details.
