San Giuseppe dei Falegnami (

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

, "St. Joseph of the Carpenters"), also called San Giuseppe a Campo Vaccino ("St. Joseph at the Cowfield", an old name for the

Roman Forum The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum ( it, Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient ...

), is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church located next to the

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. In the 11th-century, the Santi Pietro e Paolo in Carcere (St. Peter & St. Paul in Prison) Church was built here over the

Mamertine Prison The Mamertine Prison ( it, Carcere Mamertino), in antiquity the Tullianum, was a prison (''carcer'') with a dungeon (''oubliette'') located in the Comitium in ancient Rome. It is said to have been built in the 7th century BC and was situated on ...

, which by legend was the incarceration site of

Saint Peter Saint Peter; he, שמעון בר יונה, Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; ar, سِمعَان بُطرُس, translit=Simʿa̅n Buṭrus; grc-gre, Πέτρος, Petros; cop, Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, Petros; lat, Petrus; ar, شمعون الصفـا, Sham'un ...

and

Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

.''The Roman Forum'' by David Watkin 2009 page 128 In 1540, the Congregation of the Carpenters obtained authorization to build a new church here upon the ruins of the Santi Pietro e Paolo in Carcere Church. By 1597, work began on a new (current) church dedicated to the patron saint of carpenters, St. Joseph. The initial architect was

Giacomo della Porta Giacomo della Porta (1532–1602) was an Italian architect and sculptor, who worked on many important buildings in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica. He was born at Porlezza, Lombardy and died in Rome. Biography Giacomo Della Porta was b ...

. At his death (1602), the work was continued by

Giovanni Battista Montano Giovanni Battista Montano (1534–1621) was an Italian architect, designer and engraver of primary importance as a recorder of Antique Roman architectural remains. Early life Montano was born in Milan and trained primarily as a sculptor and a wo ...

who designed the

façade A façade () (also written facade) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a Loanword, loan word from the French language, French (), which means 'frontage' or 'face'. In architecture, the façade of a building is often t ...

. At his death (1621), the work was continued by his pupil

Giovanni Battista Soria 220px, Façade of Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli in Rome, with the Torre delle Milizie">Rome.html" ;"title="Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli in Rome">Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli in Rome, with the Torre delle Milizie behind. Giovanni Battista Soria (1 ...

. The San Giuseppe dei Falegnami Church was completed in 1663 by Antonio Del Grande (1607-1679), and it was consecrated on November 11, 1663. In 1853, the Chapel of the Crucifix was built between the church’s floor and the prison's ceiling. The church was restored in 1886 with the construction of a new apse. In the 1930s, the façade was raised above the floor to allow direct access to the Mamertine Prison below. The interior has a nave with two side chapels that were decorated in the nineteenth century. Among the paintings is ''Nativity'' (1651) by

Carlo Maratta Carlo Maratta or Maratti (13 May 162515 December 1713) was an Italian painter, active mostly in Rome, and known principally for his classicizing paintings executed in a Late Baroque Classical manner. Although he is part of the classical tradition ...

. Next to the church is an oratory, with a wooden ceiling. The Chapel of the Crucifix is located between the church's floor and the Mamertine Prison's ceiling. It became a

titular church In the Catholic Church, a titular church is a church in Rome that is assigned to a member of the clergy who is created a cardinal. These are Catholic churches in the city, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Rome, that serve as honorary de ...

on February 18, 2012 and received its first

Cardinal-Deacon A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...

. On August 30, 2018, there was a partial collapse of the church's roof & it was closed to the public.

References

Churches of Rome (rione Campitelli) 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy 1660s establishments in the Papal States Roman Catholic churches completed in 1663 Titular churches Baroque church buildings in Rome 1663 establishments in Italy {{Italy-church-stub