The charming clock tower of the Oratorio dei Filippini (Oratory of St Philip Neri) was designed by Francesco Borromini (1599-1667) and built between 1647 and 1649. The hands of the clock take the form of a heart, a star and two lilies. The heart and the star are symbols of the Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri, better known as the Oratorians, the religious order Neri formed in 1575, while the lilies are a reference to Florence, the saint's birthplace. St Philip Neri (1515-95) was canonised on March 12th, 1622, by Pope Gregory XV (r. 1621-23). Comments are closed.
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My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
small-group walking tours of Rome. Search Walks in Rome:
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March 2021
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