churches in rome
26 June 2018   •   Snap Italy

Churches in Rome that you may not know: 5 jewels to be discovered

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«We suggest 5 churches in Rome that have to be seen at least once in a lifetime, 5 jewels that you may not know, all to be discovered.»

Are you planning a trip through the streets of Rome but don’t want to follow the usual tours? We offer you five churches in Rome that you will most likely never have visited. They aren’t part of the classic route, they need to be discovered and visited by eyes attentive to detail and to the real, untainted, unique beauty of the Eternal City. Let’s discover them together.

Jesuit Church of Sant’Ignazio

It’s the second Jesuit church of Rome, a splendid baroque building located in the homonymous square. It’s dedicated to St. Ignatius and its main characteristic, which makes it one of the most particular even if little known churches of Rome, is the interior decorationFra ‘Andrea Pozzo, the artist who conceived and directed it, specialized in painting optical illusions, and marked on the floor the best points from which to admire his works. The first point, marked with a golden disc, offers the best view of the vault. Going on, you come across another point, which invites you to look up towards the dome, a pictorial fiction in reality. It is said that it was the inhabitants of the district who asked not to build a real dome that would have taken away the sun. This church, with pictorial virtuosity and various games, is presented as one of the most representative of the Baroque.

Church of the Quattro Coronati Saints 

Second among the churches of Rome indicated by us as “secret”, is that of the SS. Quattro Coronati. The name of this convent derives from the four martyred soldiers whose fault was that of not wanting to execute four or five sculptors who had refused to sculpt the statue of a pagan idol, thus affirming their Christian faith. The church today has the appearance of a medieval era and over time it has assumed different roles, from episcopal residence to shelter for the poor orphans. Inside the structure, there is a delightful cloister that makes this convent even more impressive. But the really suggestive part is the chapel of San Silvestro, a small space that can only be accessed thanks to the help of the nuns who live in that quasi-magical place. Inside, 13th century frescoes that seem to have been made yesterday. And since 2014, what is called the “Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages”, namely the Gothic Hall, has been restored; it’s an evocative spectacle that can be visited for free but only by reserving.

Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella

This is one of the most baroque churches in Rome, one of the most precious sacred buildings. We speak of the New Church, so renamed when St. Philip Neri had it built in place of the previous Church of S. Maria in Vallicella, which was sinking due to the floods. Inside the church the mortal body of the saint is preserved in a small and splendid chapel on the left of the altar. To make this place particularly interesting are the frescoes present in it, one in particular. This is the one located on the central vault, depicting the vision of St. Philip Neri. While the New Church was under construction, the Madonna appeared to Philip, in whose honor a fresco by Pietro da Cortona was made. This “Madonna Vallicelliana” is usually hidden beneath the altarpiece, an artwork by Paul Rubens. The canvas represents angels who venerate the image of the Madonna with the child; it’s interesting to know that the miraculous image of the Madonna Vallicelliana is discovered through a mechanical device on the occasion of the main festivities, including that of S. Filippo Neri, which takes place on 26th May.

San Girolamo della Carità

One of the most interesting churches in Rome, especially for the Cappella Spada, first chapel on the right, acless known work by Francesco Borromini. For the deceased of the Spada family, the sculptor seems to have thought of an extraordinary negotiation of eternal fabrics. So here is an infinite sample of polychrome marbles that almost make you think of a joyful afterlife, in which to move in extreme freedom. And then the “bizarre” idea of ​​replacing the balustrade with kneeling angels holding a drape, obviously of marble, between them.

Santa Maria della Concezione

The last among the churches of Rome that we point out is that of Santa Maria della Concezione. It’s one of the most particular churches in Rome, which one must know about to visit. Both inside and outside, in fact, the dimensions, as well as the environment, are extremely sober, which makes it different from many other Roman churches. The real point of attraction is the Crypt of the Capuchin Brothers, a place that makes a lot of visitors cringe. In 1631, Friar Antonio Marcello Barberini ordered the transfer of the remains of the bodies of the Capuchin brothers from the main cemetery to the crypt of the church. The cardinal ordered the bones of the dead to be placed in an “artistic” manner. The crypt is divided into six small chapels decorated with the bones of more than 4,000 Capuchin friars who died between 1528 and 1870. In addition to the bones ordered in different ways, in the crypt you can see some complete skeletons wearing the habit.

Chiara Rocca

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