Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria di Montesanto are two churches in Rome. They are located on the

Piazza del Popolo Piazza del Popolo is a large urban square in Rome. The name in modern Italian literally means "People's Square", but historically it derives from the poplars (''populus'' in Latin, ''pioppo'' in Italian) after which the church of Santa Maria del ...

, facing the northern gate of the Aurelian Walls, at the entrance of

Via del Corso The Via del Corso is a main street in the historical centre of Rome. It is straight in an area otherwise characterized by narrow meandering alleys and small piazzas. Considered a wide street in ancient times, the Corso is approximately 10 metres w ...

on the square. The churches are often cited as "twin", due to their similar external appearance: they have indeed some differences, in both plan and exterior details. Looking from the square, the two churches define the so-called "trident" of streets departing from Piazza del Popolo: starting from the left,

Via del Babuino Via del Babuino is a street in the historic centre of Rome (Italy), located in the rione Campo Marzio. It connects Piazza del Popolo to Piazza di Spagna and is part of the complex of streets known as Tridente. History The origins of Via del Bab ...

, Via del Corso and

Via di Ripetta Via di Ripetta, also called Via Ripetta, is a street in the historic centre of Rome (Italy), in the rione Campo Marzio, that links Piazza del Popolo to Via del Clementino and, with other toponyms (Via della Scrofa, Via della Dogana Vecchia), rea ...

. The first two are separated by Santa Maria in Montesanto, the latter by Santa Maria dei Miracoli. The origin of the two churches traces back to the 17th-century restoration of what was the main entrance to the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

and

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

Rome, from the

Via Flaminia The Via Flaminia or Flaminian Way was an ancient Roman road leading from Rome over the Apennine Mountains to ''Ariminum'' (Rimini) on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, and due to the ruggedness of the mountains was the major option the Romans had ...

(known as ''Via Lata'' and ''Via del Corso'' in its urban trait).

Pope Alexander VII Pope Alexander VII ( it, Alessandro VII; 13 February 159922 May 1667), born Fabio Chigi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 April 1655 to his death in May 1667. He began his career as a vice- papal legate, an ...

commissioned the monumental design of the entrance of Via del Corso to architect

Carlo Rainaldi Carlo Rainaldi (4 May 1611 – 8 February 1691) was an Italian architect of the Baroque period. Biography Born in Rome, Rainaldi was one of the leading architects of 17th century Rome, known for a certain grandeur in his designs. He worked at f ...

. This included two churches with central plans, but the different shapes of the two areas available forced deep modifications to the projects. Both were financed by cardinal

Girolamo Gastaldi Girolamo Gastaldi (1616–1685) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. Biography On 12 May 1680, was consecrated bishop by Girolamo Boncompagni, Archbishop of Bologna, with Carlo Molza, Bishop of Modena A bishop is an ordained clergy member who ...

, whose crest is present in the two churches.

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Santa Maria dei Miracoli was begun in 1675 and finished in 1681. With a circular plan, it has an elegant 18th-century bell tower by Girolamo Theodoli and an octagonal cupola. The interior has a rich

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...

decoration by

Antonio Raggi Antonio Raggi (1624–1686), also called ''Antonio Lombardo'', was a sculptor of the Roman Baroque, originating from today's Ticino. Biography He was born in Vico Morcote on the Lake Lugano. His mentor in Rome for nearly three decades was Gian ...

, Bernini's pupil. The monuments for Cardinals Benedetto and Gastaldi were designed by

Carlo Fontana Carlo Fontana (1634 or 1638–1714) was an Italian architect originating from today's Canton Ticino, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture. Biography There seems to be no proof that ...

, who also provided design for the cupola and the lamp. The busts in bronze were completed by Girolamo Lucenti. At the high altar is the miraculous image of the Virgin which has given the church its name. The first chapel on the right-hand side has an altar dedicated to

Our Lady of Bétharram Our or OUR may refer to: * The possessive form of " we" * Our (river), in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany * Our, Belgium, a village in Belgium * Our, Jura, a commune in France * Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), a government utility regulat ...

, named after a shrine near Lourdes. The Society of Priests of the Sacred Heart was founded at Bétharram. There is a reproduction of

Renoir Pierre-Auguste Renoir (; 25 February 1841 – 3 December 1919) was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Re ...

's Madonna at Bétharram.

Santa Maria in Montesanto

Santa Maria in Montesanto, erected over a church with the same name that lay at the beginning of Via del Babuino, was occupied by Carmelite monks. The name Montesanto (Holy Mountain) referred to

Mount Carmel Mount Carmel ( he, הַר הַכַּרְמֶל, Har haKarmel; ar, جبل الكرمل, Jabal al-Karmil), also known in Arabic as Mount Mar Elias ( ar, link=no, جبل مار إلياس, Jabal Mār Ilyās, lit=Mount Saint Elias/Elijah), is a c ...

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. The construction of the present church was begun on July 15, 1662, under the patronage of Cardinal Girolamo Gastaldi, and finished in 1675, with other additions by 1679. Originally designed by

, the plans were revised by

Gian Lorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, , ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 159828 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor of his ...

, and ultimately completed by

. A belfry was added in the 18th century. The statues of saints on the exterior have been attributed to Bernini's design. The interior has an elliptical plan, with a dodecagonal cupola. In 1825, the church was made a minor basilica. On August 10, 1904, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Giuseppe Ceppetelli in this church. In 1953, Monsignor Ennio Francia established the tradition of the Mass of the Artists. On the last Sunday of October till June 29, a mass is held every Sunday with a reading by an artist, and animated by music. At the end of the mass, a prayer for the artists is read. For these reasons the Montesanto church is also called the ''Church of the Artists''.

Interior decoration

The first chapel to the left is the cappella di Santa Lucia (''Saint Lucy''). The second chapel is dedicated to Santa Maria

Magdalena de Pazzi Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, OCarm ( it, Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi; April 2, 1566 – May 25, 1607), was an Italian Carmelite nun and mystic. She has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church. Life De' Pazzi was born at Florence, Italy, on ...

, designed by Carlo Rainaldi to honor the Carmelite nun canonized by Pope Clemente XI in 1669. The ceiling and the altarpiece of the ''Miracle of the saint'' (c. 1685) was painted by

Ludovico Gimignani Ludovico Gimignani (1643 – 26 June 1697) was an Italian painter, who is mainly known for his altarpieces for churches in Rome. Biography Ludovico was born in Rome as the son of the painter Giacinto (1611–1681). His father was one of the mai ...

. The third chapel is the ''cappella Montioni''. The Monitoni family commissioned the design by

Tommaso Mattei Tommaso Mattei (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).s ...

, pupil of

. The altarpiece of the ''Madonna with Child and Saints Francis and Jacob'' (c. 1687) was completed 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 ...

. The ''Assumption'' fresco was painted by

Giuseppe Chiari Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari (10 March 1654 – 8 September 1727), also known simply as ''Giuseppe Chiari'', was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period, active mostly in Rome. Biography Born in Rome, he was one of the main assistants, alon ...

. Upon the altar is a modern statue of the ''Angel for the artists'' by Guelfo (1937–1997). At one time, the sacristy held frescoes by Baciccia. The presbytery is stuccoed with angels by Filippo Carcani and houses the miraculous 15th-century altarpiece of ''Virgin of Montesanto'', which tradition holds was painted by an 11-year-old girl. The sacristy has a frescoed vault with angels and the instruments of passion, the altarpiece of the ''Deposition ''(c. 1600) is attributed to

Biagio Puccini Biagio Puccini (1673–1721) was an Italian painter, active in his native Rome, but also in Tuscany, Umbria and the Marche in a late Baroque style. He was born in Rome. He trained with Antonio Gherardi, but was influenced by Giacinto Brandi, Gi ...

. Homepage for Santa Maria in Montesanto.

References

External links

* Federico Gizzi, ''Le chiese barocche di Roma'', 1998, Newton Compton, Rome.
Basilica di Santa Maria in Montesanto. La Chiesa degli Artisti
**Francesco d'Alfonso

**Francesco d'Alfonso, Silvia Marsano, Marilena Borriello

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santa Maria Dei Miracoli And Santa Maria In Montesanto Maria Miracoli Baroque architecture in Rome 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Maria Miracoli

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Santa Maria in Montesanto

Interior decoration

See also

References

External links