The strange juxtaposition of the façade of St Charles Borromeo may seem disconcerting. Apparently the architect, J.B. Fischer von Erlach, had the idea for the church on top of the Pincian hill, in Rome, when looking down on Trajan's column, the portico of the Pantheon and the dome of St Peter's Basilica. The church, built from 1716 -1737, is dedicated to the Milan bishop who fought against the plague. Inside, the apotheosis of the saint is illustrated by rich frescoes in the dome.