San Vigilio, Siena
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

San Vigilio is a
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
and
Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
style,
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
church located on Via San Vigilio,
Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...
, region of
Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...
, Italy. The exterior has a sober classical facade, while the interior has rich Baroque decorations. The church is dedicated to the Bishop and martyr St Vigilius; it now serves as the chapel for the
University of Siena The University of Siena (, abbreviation: UNISI), located in Siena, Tuscany, holds the distinction of being Italy's first publicly funded university as well as one of the oldest, originally established as ''Studium Senese'' in 1240. As of 2022, it ...
. It stands across the street from the Castellare Ugurgieri, and down the street from the Palazzo Bandini Piccolomini found on the junction with Via Sallustio Bandini.


History

The building was initially a parish church built by the Ugurgieri family. The structure was occupied by the 11th century with monks of the Camaldolese order, who had a convent adjacent to the church. That building burned in a fire in 1153, and was reconstructed by 1231. In 1420, the monks were expelled. In 1556, the church was ceded to the
Jesuit order The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 by ...
. They rebuilt the church in 1561, which they continued to refurbish until 1775. When the Jesuits were suppressed in 1759, the church was acquired by the Vallombrosan order, who had the facade rebuilt in the present brick form by the architect Antonio Matteucci. In turn when the Vallombrosan order was suppressed, in 1816, the Grand Duke of Tuscany gifted the church to the University of Siena. The interior is decorated with 15 canvases by
Raffaello Vanni Raffaello Vanni (1595 - 29 November 1673) was an Italian painter of the Baroque. Biography He was born at Siena. He first trained with his father, Francesco Vanni, who died in 1610. He was afterwards sent to Rome, and recommended to the care of ...
depicting ''The Last Judgement''. The third chapel on the left has busts depicting Pietro De Vecchi and his wife Giulia Verdelli by Giuseppe Mazzuoli. The bronze crucifix is attributed to
Pietro Tacca Pietro Tacca (16 September 1577 – 26 October 1640) was an Italian sculptor, who was the chief pupil and follower of Giambologna. Tacca began in a Mannerist style and worked in the Baroque style during his maturity. Biography Born in Carr ...
. The chapel also has a sepulchral monument to Antonio Rospigliosi, nephew of
Pope Clement IX Pope Clement IX (; ; 28 January 1600 – 9 December 1669), born Giulio Rospigliosi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 20 June 1667 to his death in December 1669. Giulio Rospigliosi was born into the noble Ro ...
; the monument was sculpted by Giovanni Antonio Mazzuoli. The chapel of St Francis Borgia was painted by Dionisio Montorselli. In the chapel of St Anne a canvas was painted by Romanelli. In the chapel of the Taja family, bronze figures of St Ignatius, St Bernardino, and the Blessed Giovanni Colombino were completed by the studio of
Gianlorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...
. The works were commissioned by Cardinal Flaminio Taja. The chapel of St Francis Xavier has canvases by
Francesco Vanni Francesco Vanni (1563 – 26 October 1610) was an Italian painter, draughtsman, printmaker, publisher and printer active in Rome and his native city of Siena.
, and
Baldassare Franceschini Baldassare Franceschini, called Il Volterrano after his birth place Volterra and, to distinguish him from Daniele da Volterra, Ricciarelli, Il Volterrano Giuniore (16116 January 1689) was an Italian late Baroque painter and draughtsman active p ...
. The chapel of the Madonna di Loreto is decorated with canvases by Francesco Vanni, depicting the ''Assumption of the Virgin'' and ''Translation of the House''. The main altarpiece depicting the ''Glory of St Ignatius'' was painted by
Mattia Preti Mattia Preti (24 February 1613 – 3 January 1699) was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Saint John. Life Born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was called ''Il Ca ...
. Flanking the painting are two canvases by
Francesco Vanni Francesco Vanni (1563 – 26 October 1610) was an Italian painter, draughtsman, printmaker, publisher and printer active in Rome and his native city of Siena.
depicting ''Louis Gonzaga and Stanislaus Kostka''. The sepulchral monument of Marcello Biringucci was completed by Bartolomeo Mazzuoli.Capella Universitaria
official site.


References

{{Authority control 15th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Vigilio Renaissance architecture in Siena Baroque architecture in Siena Roman Catholic churches completed in 1561