Roman Catholic churches, a landmark of Rome, Italy
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
and
Santa Maria di Montesanto
are two
churches in
Rome.
They are located on the
Piazza del Popolo
, facing the northern gate of the
Aurelian Walls
, at the entrance of
Via del Corso
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 Corso and
Via di Ripetta
. 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
and
Renaissance
Rome, from the
Via Flaminia
(known as
Via Lata
and
Via del Corso
in its urban trait).
Pope Alexander VII
commissioned the monumental design of the entrance of Via del Corso to architect
Carlo Rainaldi
. 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
, whose crest is present in the two churches.
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
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Church in Rome, Italy
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
decoration by
Antonio Raggi
, Bernini's pupil. The monuments for Cardinals Benedetto and Gastaldi were designed by
Carlo Fontana
, who also provided design for the cupola and the lamp. The busts in bronze were completed by
Girolamo Lucenti
.
[1]
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 Betharram
, named after a shrine near Lourdes. The
Society of Priests of the Sacred Heart
was founded at
Betharram
. There is a reproduction of
Renoir
's Madonna at Betharram.
Santa Maria in Montesanto
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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 friars. The name Montesanto (Holy Mountain) referred to
Mount Carmel
in
Israel
. 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
Carlo Rainaldi
, the plans were revised by
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
, and ultimately completed by
Carlo Fontana
. 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.
[2]
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.
[3]
For these reasons the Montesanto church is also called the
Church of the Artists
.
Interior decoration
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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
, 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
.
The third chapel is the
cappella Montioni
. The Monitoni family commissioned the design by
Tommaso Mattei
, pupil of
Carlo Fontana
. The altarpiece of the
Madonna with Child and Saints Francis and Jacob
(c. 1687) was completed by
Carlo Maratta
. The
Assumption
fresco was painted by
Giuseppe Chiari
. 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
.
[4]
See also
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References
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External links
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Media related to
Santa Maria dei Miracoli e Santa Maria in Montesanto (Rome)
at Wikimedia Commons