Santa Maria in Vallicella
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Santa Maria in Vallicella, also called Chiesa Nuova, is a church in Rome, situated on the Via del Governo Vecchio.
[edit] History
Pope Gregory I built the first church on the site. By the 12th century, its was dedicated to Santa Maria in Vallicella (Our Lady in the Little Valley).
In the 16th century, St. Philip Neri, helped by cardinal Pier Donato Cesi and Pope Gregory XIII, had the church rebuilt. When Pier Donato died, his brother Angelo Cesi, Bishop of Todi, continued his family's patronage[1]. Initially the architect was martino Longhi the Elder, but he was replaced later by matteo da Castello. The nave was completed in 1577, the church was consecrated in 1599. The facade, designed by Fausto Rughesi, was completed in 1605 or 1606. The Cesi heraldry is still evident in the church.
[edit] Description
The church was modelled on the Church of the Gesù, and its interior is an example of early Roman Baroque. Artists who contributed to it include Francesco Borromini (the attached Oratory), Pietro da Cortona, Pomerancio, Rubens, Carlo Saraceni, and Federico Barocci. The latter completed two altarpieces, including one in the Chapel of the Visitation. Caravaggio had been commisioned by Alessandro Vittrice, nephew of one of Saint Phillip's friends, an altarpiec of the Entombment of Christ. The Rubens altarpiece was commissioned by Monsignor Giacomo Serra for 300 scudi.
Neri is buried in the chapel dedicated to him, in a tomb decorated with mother-of-pearl.
[edit] External links
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