Posted by Shazarch on 07 May 2022

Santa Maria in Vallicella

16th century, Rome

Religious site / Temple

Santa Maria in Vallicella, also known as Chiesa Nuova, stands as a significant architectural and cultural landmark in the heart of Rome. The church's history is deeply entwined with the Counter Reformation and the Oratorians, a religious congregation of secular priests founded by St. Philip Neri in 1561. Tradition holds that the original church on this site was built by St. Gregory the Great, with the 12th-century edifice dedicated to 'Our Lady in the Little Valley'. In 1575, Pope Gregory XIII recognized Neri's congregation and granted them the church and its convent. The rebuilding of the church commenced under the guidance of St. Philip Neri, with support from Pier Donato Cardinal Cesi and Pope Gregory XIII. Architects Matteo di Città di Castello and later Martino Longhi the Elder were instrumental in its construction, with the nave completed by 1577 and the church consecrated in 1599. The facade, a design by Fausto Rughesi, was finished shortly thereafter, adorned with the Cesi family heraldry. Inside, the church follows the Counter-Reformation design with a single main nave, transepts, and side chapels, all leading towards the High Altar. The interior, originally intended to be plain, was enriched with artistic works between 1620 and 1690, featuring altarpieces by Barocci, Pietro da Cortona's ceilings, and an altarpiece by Rubens. Cortona's frescoes, including the 'Trinity' in the dome and the 'Assumption of the Virgin' in the apse, create a visual link between the earthly and the divine. His 'Miracle of the Madonna della Vallicella' on the nave vault is a Venetian-influenced masterpiece framed by elaborate stucco work. The church also houses notable works by artists such as Lanfranco, Muziano, Morandi, Cerrini, and Barocci. The sacristy, completed in 1629, contains a marble group by Algardi and frescoes by Trevisani and Cerrini. The adjacent Oratorio dei Filippini, designed by Francesco Borromini, presents a stark contrast with its brick facade to the church's travertine exterior. Since 1946, Santa Maria in Vallicella has served as a titular church in the consistory of Pope Pius XII.