Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto

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The "twin" churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto (left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (right), seen from Piazza del Popolo. Between the two churches Via del Corso starts. Although very similar, differences can been seen in this image in the two small belfrys and in the two domes (noticeable from the number of windows in the two timpani).

Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in 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 plant 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 plant, 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.

[edit] Santa Maria in Montesanto

Santa Maria in Montesanto, erected over a church with the same name that lied at the beginning of Via del Babuino, was began in 1662 and finished in 1675 with a revised project by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. A belfry was added in the 18th century. The interior has an elliptical plant, with a dodecagonal cupola. The third chapel on the left houses an altarpiece by Carlo Maratta, The Virgin with Child and Saints (1687). The main altar is characterized by the miraculous image of the Virgin of Montesanto, painted in the 16th century. The statues of saints on the exterior have been attributed to Bernini's design.

[edit] Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Santa Maria dei Miracoli was begun in 1675 and finished in 1681. With circular plant, 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 of the interior are by Carlo Fontana, who also provided design for the cupola and the lamp.