The narrow church or oratory of San Gaetano di Thiene is found in the middle of via dei Pispini in

Siena Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena. The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...

, Italy. This oratory of the aristocratic

Contrada A (plural: ) is a subdivision (of various types) of Italian city, now unofficial. Depending on the case, a will be a ''località'', a ''rione'', a ''quartiere'' (''terziere'', etc.), a '' borgo'', or even a suburb. The best-known are the 1 ...

del Nicchio (Sea-shell) was built from 1683-1700. The simple façade sports a large stucco seashell over the doorway. It houses a 14th-century painting depicting a ''Madonna and Child with Saints '', which is likely the icon of ''Madonna del Forcone'' that had been previously venerated at an aedicule where the church stands. Between 1686 -1705, Giacomo Franchini added much of the internal stucco decoration, including statues of Blessed Ambrogio Sansedoni (first niche on left); the second niche and almost in conversation with the first is St Gaetano (

Saint Cajetan Gaetano dei Conti di Thiene (6 October 1480 – 7 August 1547), known as Saint Cajetan (), was an Italian Catholic priest and religious reformer, co-founder of the Theatines. He is recognised as a saint in the Catholic Church, and his feast day ...

); on the right are St Vincenzo Ferrer (flame over head) and Blessed Giovanni Colombini with a crucifix in left hand. Next to altar are Saints Bernardino and Caterina of Siena. The ceiling was frescoed with the Theological virtues by

Giuseppe Nasini Giuseppe Nicola Nasini (January 25, 1657– July 3, 1736) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Rome and Tuscany. Biography Born in Castel del Piano, now in the Province of Grosseto, Giuseppe was the son of the painter Frances ...

and his pupil Stefano di Francesco Marzi. The work was completed in 1734 by Apollonio Nasini using designs and help by father Giuseppe Nicola.Eco Museo Siena

Sources

*Translated from Italian Wikipedia entry. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaetano Siena Gaetano di Thiene 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Gaetano di Thiene Roman Catholic churches completed in 1700 1700 establishments in Italy