Little-Known Churches in Rome
Here are some of the many churches in Rome
that are largely unknown to most visitors.
that are largely unknown to most visitors.
Bambin Gesù all' Esquilino
Bambin Gesù all' Esquilino
Bambin Gesù all' Esquilino is an 18th century convent church.
Gesù Nazareno all' Argentina
Gesù Nazareno all' Argentina
Gesù Nazareno all' Argentina is an 18th century confraternity church. The architect was Filippo Juvarra (1678-1736).
The church was originally called Santi Cosma e Damiano dei Barbieri and was owned by the Confraternity of Barbers. St Cosmas and St Damian were the patrons of the confraternity, because (according to their legend) they had worked as doctors of medicine. As well as cutting hair, barbers also performed minor surgical operations and blood-letting, hence the patronage.
The church was later dedicated to Jesus the Nazarene.
The church was originally called Santi Cosma e Damiano dei Barbieri and was owned by the Confraternity of Barbers. St Cosmas and St Damian were the patrons of the confraternity, because (according to their legend) they had worked as doctors of medicine. As well as cutting hair, barbers also performed minor surgical operations and blood-letting, hence the patronage.
The church was later dedicated to Jesus the Nazarene.
Sant' Andrea a Ponte Milvio
Sant' Andrea a Ponte Milvio
Sant' Andrea a Ponte Milvio is a tiny 16th century devotional church.
The origin of the church goes back to 1462 when the alleged head of St Andrew was brought to Rome from Patras, the traditonal site of the saint's martyrdom. Pope Pius II received the head at this spot and in the following year ordered a monument with a statue of St Andrew to be erected here. It was attached to a small cemetery for anonymous pilgrims, who had died on pilgrimage. In 1566 the site was granted to the confraternity at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, who were involved in the care of pilgrims, and they probably built the church then, although its foundation is undocumented.
The origin of the church goes back to 1462 when the alleged head of St Andrew was brought to Rome from Patras, the traditonal site of the saint's martyrdom. Pope Pius II received the head at this spot and in the following year ordered a monument with a statue of St Andrew to be erected here. It was attached to a small cemetery for anonymous pilgrims, who had died on pilgrimage. In 1566 the site was granted to the confraternity at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, who were involved in the care of pilgrims, and they probably built the church then, although its foundation is undocumented.
Sant' Andrea del Vignola
Sant' Andrea del Vignola
Sant' Andrea del Vignola is a 16th century devotional church.
Sant' Andrea del Vignola was founded by Pope Julius III (r. 1550–55) as an act of thanksgiving for an escape from death. When he was served as an official under Pope Clement VII (r. 1523-34), he was one of the hostages handed over to the imperial troops during the Sack of Rome, in 1527. He managed to escape from prison on November 30th, the feast day of St Andrew, while other hostages were not so lucky and were killed.
Sant' Andrea del Vignola was founded by Pope Julius III (r. 1550–55) as an act of thanksgiving for an escape from death. When he was served as an official under Pope Clement VII (r. 1523-34), he was one of the hostages handed over to the imperial troops during the Sack of Rome, in 1527. He managed to escape from prison on November 30th, the feast day of St Andrew, while other hostages were not so lucky and were killed.
Sant' Antonio Abate all' Esquilino
Sant' Antonio Abate all' Esquilino
Sant' Antonio Abate all 'Esquilino is a 15th century former hospital and convent church, which is now the Russian national church.
Sant' Atanasio dei Greci
Sant' Atanasio dei Greci
The 16th century titular church of Sant' Atanasio dei Greci is the Greek national church.
The church and the college attached to it, the Pontificio Collegio Greco Sant' Atanasio, were founded by Pope Gregory XIII (r. 1572–1585). The architect was Giacomo della Porta.
The church and the college attached to it, the Pontificio Collegio Greco Sant' Atanasio, were founded by Pope Gregory XIII (r. 1572–1585). The architect was Giacomo della Porta.
Santi Bartolomeo ed Alessandro dei Bergamaschi
Santi Bartolomeo ed Alessandro ​dei Bergamaschi
Santi Bartolomeo ed Alessandro dei Bergamaschi is a small 18th century confraternity church.
San Basilio agli Orti Sallustiani
San Basilio agli Orti Sallustiani
San Basilio agli Orti Sallustiani is a 17th century monastic church.
Santi Benedetto e Scolastica all' Argentina
Santi Benedetto a Scolastica
Santi Benedetto e Scolastica all' Argentina is a 17th century confraternity and regional church. It is also a minor basilica.
The church, one of the smallest in Rome, is the regional church for expatriates of the town and region of Norcia in Umbria. The circular inscription above the entrance reads: DIVIS / BENEDICTO ET SCHOLASTICA NVRSINVS / PATRONIS ORDO ET POPVLVS/ AD MDCXIX (To the honoured patrons Benedict and Scholastica, the council and people of Norcia, 1619).
The church, one of the smallest in Rome, is the regional church for expatriates of the town and region of Norcia in Umbria. The circular inscription above the entrance reads: DIVIS / BENEDICTO ET SCHOLASTICA NVRSINVS / PATRONIS ORDO ET POPVLVS/ AD MDCXIX (To the honoured patrons Benedict and Scholastica, the council and people of Norcia, 1619).
San Biagio della Pagnotta
San Biagio della Pagnotta
Of ancient foundation, San Biagio della Pagnotta is the national church of Armenia.
Santa Caterina della Rota
Santa Caterina della Rota
Santa Caterina della Rota (St Catherine of the Wheel) is a 16th century confraternity church.
San Cesareo in Palatio
San Cesareo in Palatio
San Cesareo in Palatio is a 16th century titular church.
San Cosimato in Trastevere
San Cosimato in Trastevere
San Cosimato in Trastevere is a 15th century former convent church.
Santa Croce alla Lungara
Santa Croce alla Lungara
Santa Croce alla Lungara, also known as Santa Croce delle Scalette, is a 17th century convent church.
Santa Croce e San Bonaventura dei Lucchesi
Santa Croce e San Bonaventura dei Lucchesi
Santa Croce e San Bonaventura dei Lucchesi is a 17th century convent and regional church.
Sant' Egidio in Trastevere
Sant' Egidio in Trastevere
Sant' Egidio in Trastevere is a 17th century convent and titular church.
Sant' Eligio degli Orefici
Sant' Eligio degli Orefici
Sant' Eligio degli Orefici (St Eligius of the Goldsmith) is a 16th century confraternity church.
Sant' Eligio dei Ferrari
Sant' Eligio dei Ferrari
Sant' Eligio dei Ferrari is a 16th/17th century confraternity church, which belongs to the Università dei Ferrari (Guild of Metalworkers).
San Giacomo alla Lungara
San Giacomo alla Lungara
San Giacomo alla Lungara is a 17th century convent church.
San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi
San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi
San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi is a 15th century regional church.
San Giovanni Calabita
San Giovanni Calibita
San Giuseppe alla Lungara is a 17th century hospital and convent church.
Santi Giovanni Evangelista
e Petronio dei Bolognesi
Santi Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio dei Bolognesi
Santi Giovanni e Petronio dei Bolognesi is an 16th century confraternity, titular and regional church.
San Giuseppe alla Lungara
San Giuseppe alla Lungara
San Giuseppe alla Lungara is an 18th century convent church.
San Gregorio della Divina Pieta
San Gregorio della Divina PietÃ
In 1729, the church of San Gregorio della Divina Pietà was restored by the Roman architect and sculptor Filippo Barigioni (c. 1680-1753), at the behest of Pope Benedict XIII (r. 1724-30), and given to the Operai della Divina Pietà (Workers of Divine Mercy), which had been founded in 1679 to help families who were once well-off, but who had fallen into poverty
Alms Slot
There is an alms slot on the north wall with the inscription: ELEMOSINA PER POVERE ONORATE FAMIGLIE E VERGOGNOSE (Alms for poor, honourable and embarrassed families). There is another slot on the same wall which is inscribed: MEMORIALI. This was for people to submit the names of persons or families in difficulty.
San Gregorietto, as the church is also known (on account of its small size), stands outside what was once the Jewish Ghetto. On its facade there is an inscription from the Book of Isaiah in both Hebrew and Latin. It reads in translation: 'I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick' (Isaiah, 65: 2-3, KJV).
San Gregorio della Divina Pietà is also known as San Gregorio a Ponte Quattro Capi, on account of its proximity to the Bridge of the Four Heads, a name given to the ancient Ponte Fabricio.
San Gregorietto, as the church is also known (on account of its small size), stands outside what was once the Jewish Ghetto. On its facade there is an inscription from the Book of Isaiah in both Hebrew and Latin. It reads in translation: 'I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick' (Isaiah, 65: 2-3, KJV).
San Gregorio della Divina Pietà is also known as San Gregorio a Ponte Quattro Capi, on account of its proximity to the Bridge of the Four Heads, a name given to the ancient Ponte Fabricio.
San Gregorio Nazianzeno
San Gregorio Nazianzeno
San Gregorio Nazianzeno is an 11th century former monastic church.
Santi Ildefonso e Tommaso da Villanova
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Santi Ildefonso e Tommaso da Villanova
Santi Ildefonso e Tommaso ad Villanova is a 17th century convent church.
Sant' Isidoro a Capo le Case
Sant' Isidoro a Capo le Case
Sant' Isidoro a Capo le Case is a 17th century confraternity church.
San Lorenzo in Fonte
San Lorenzo in Fonte
San Lorenzo in Fonte is a small 17th century former confraternity church on older foundations.
According to legend, St Lawrence was imprisoned here. A fellow prisoner was a blind pagan, whom the saint converted to Christianity. Lacking water to baptise him, he prayed and a spring of water (fonte) miraculously started flowing from the floor of the cell. When the jailer, St Hippolytus (in Italian: Ippolito) learned of this, he, too, converted. And he, too, was martyred, as the inscription on the facade proclaims: S S LAVRENTIO ET IPPOLYTO MARTYRIBVS.
According to legend, St Lawrence was imprisoned here. A fellow prisoner was a blind pagan, whom the saint converted to Christianity. Lacking water to baptise him, he prayed and a spring of water (fonte) miraculously started flowing from the floor of the cell. When the jailer, St Hippolytus (in Italian: Ippolito) learned of this, he, too, converted. And he, too, was martyred, as the inscription on the facade proclaims: S S LAVRENTIO ET IPPOLYTO MARTYRIBVS.
San Lorenzo in Panisperna
San Lorenzo in Panisperna
San Lorenzo in Panisperna is a 16th century titular church. According to popular belief, the church stands on the spot where St Lawrence was martyred.
Santa Lucia della Tinta
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Santa Lucia della Tinta
Santa Lucia della Tinta is a heavily restored 13th century former confraternity church.
Tinta means dye and may refer to the presence in the vicinity of dye-works.
Tinta means dye and may refer to the presence in the vicinity of dye-works.
Natività di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo degli Agonizzanti
Natività di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo degli Agonizzanti
Natività di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo degli Agonizzanti is a 17th century confraternity church.
San Macuto
Via del Seminario
San Macuto
San Macuto is a 16th century college church.
Santa Margherita di Antiochia
Santa Margherita di Antiochia
Santa Marigherita di Antiochia is a 17th century former convent church.
Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio ai Monti
Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio ai Monti
Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio (St Mary of the Good Counsel) is an early mediaeval confraternity church.
Santa Maria del Carmine alle Tre Cannelle
Santa Maria del Carmine alle Tre Cannelle
Santa Maria del Carmine alle Tre Cannelle is an 18th century confraternity church.
Santa Maria del Divino Amore
Santa Maria del Divino Amore
Santa Maria del Divino Amore is an 18th century former confraternity church with a 12th century campanile.
Santa Maria del Suffragio
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Santa Maria del Suffragio
Santa Maria del Suffragio is a 17th century confraternity church.
The church was designed by Carlo Rainaldi and completed in 1669 for the Arciconfraternita della Santissima Vergine Maria del Suffragio (Archconfraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Suffrage), who still own it. The confraternity was founded in 1592 to intercede for souls in Purgatory.
The church was designed by Carlo Rainaldi and completed in 1669 for the Arciconfraternita della Santissima Vergine Maria del Suffragio (Archconfraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Suffrage), who still own it. The confraternity was founded in 1592 to intercede for souls in Purgatory.
Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio
Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio
Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio is a 17th century former monastic church.
Santa Maria della Quercia
Santa Maria della Quercia
The 18th century church of Santa Maria della Quercia (St Mary of the Oak Tree) belongs to the Butchers' Guild.
Santa Maria in Cappella
Santa Maria in Cappella is a heavily restored 11th century hospice church.
Santa Maria in Monterone
Santa Maria in Monterone
Santa Maria in Monterone is a 17th century convent church.
Santa Maria in Portae Paradisi
Santa Maria in Portae Paradisi
Santa Maria in Portae Paradisi is a 16th century former hospital church.
The origin of the church's name is uncertain; it may come from the fact that it was situated close to one of the gates of the gardens that surrounded the Mausoleum of Augustus, which were called 'paradiseios'.
The inscription above the entrance reads: ECC S M PORTAE PARADISI ET LIBERATRICIS PESTILENTIAE ANNO DOMINI MDXXIII (The church of St Mary of the Gate of Paradise and Liberator from plague, the year of the Lord 1523). The statue of the Madonna and Child has been ascribed to the sculptor Andrea Sansovino (c. 1467-1529).
The origin of the church's name is uncertain; it may come from the fact that it was situated close to one of the gates of the gardens that surrounded the Mausoleum of Augustus, which were called 'paradiseios'.
The inscription above the entrance reads: ECC S M PORTAE PARADISI ET LIBERATRICIS PESTILENTIAE ANNO DOMINI MDXXIII (The church of St Mary of the Gate of Paradise and Liberator from plague, the year of the Lord 1523). The statue of the Madonna and Child has been ascribed to the sculptor Andrea Sansovino (c. 1467-1529).
Santa Maria in Publicolis
Santa Maria in Publicolis
Of ancient foundation, Santa Maria in Publicolis is a 17th century convent church.
In 1643, Cardinal Marcello Santacroce had the church completely rebuilt to a design by the Roman architect Giovanni Antonio de' Rossi (1616-95). At the top corners of the facade are two pelicans pecking at their breasts to draw blood with which to feed their chicks, a common Christian symbol and the emblem of the Santacroce family.
In 1643, Cardinal Marcello Santacroce had the church completely rebuilt to a design by the Roman architect Giovanni Antonio de' Rossi (1616-95). At the top corners of the facade are two pelicans pecking at their breasts to draw blood with which to feed their chicks, a common Christian symbol and the emblem of the Santacroce family.
San Nicola dei Prefetti
San Nicola dei Prefetti
San Nicola dei Prefetti (St Nicholas of the Prefects) is an 18th century confraternity and convent church.
Sant' Omobono
Sant' Omobono
Sant' Ombono is a 16th century guild church.
Santi Quirico e Giulitta
Santi Quirico e Giulitta
The 18th century convent church of Santi Quirico e Giulitta is of ancient foundation.
San Salvatore in Campo
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San Salvatore in Campo
San Salvatore in Campo is a 17th century confraternity church.
San Silvestro al Quirinale
San Silvestro al Quirinale
San Silvestro al Quirinale is a 16th century convent church.
Santo Spirito dei Napoletani
Santo Spirito dei Napoletani
Santo Spirito dei Napoletani is a 17th century confraternity and regional church.
Santo Stefano del Cacco
Santo Stefano del Cacco
Santo Stefano del Cacco is a much restored 9th century (?) monastic church. The dedication is to the deacon and protomartyr St Stephen.
San Tommaso ai Cenci
San Tommaso ai Cenci
San Tommaso ai Cenci is a 16th century former parish church.
San Tommaso in Formis
San Tommaso in Formis
San Tommaso in Formis is a small 13th century convent church.
San Tommaso in Parione
San Tommaso in Parione
San Tommaso in Parione is a late-16th century church.
It was in San Tommaso in Parione, on May 15th 1639, that Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) married Caterina Tezio (1617-73). She bore him eleven children, of which only three survived into adulthood.
It was in San Tommaso in Parione, on May 15th 1639, that Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) married Caterina Tezio (1617-73). She bore him eleven children, of which only three survived into adulthood.
Santi Vito e Modesto
Santi Vito e Modesto
Santi Vito e Modesto is a 15th century parish and titular church. The dedication is to the two martyrs St Vitus and St Modestus.