The titular church of Santa Susanna may have been founded as early as the fourth century. However, the building we see today was designed by Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) and constructed between 1593 and 1603.
Facade
The beautiful facade is commonly hailed as Maderno's masterpiece. The inscription reads: HIER · EPIS · PORT · CARD · RVSTICVCIVS · PAPAE · VICAR · AD · MDCIII (Girolamo Rusticucci, Cardinal, Bishop of Porto and Papal Vicar, AD 1603) and commemorates the titular cardinal who oversaw the beginning of the building project. Sadly, Cardinal Rusticucci never saw the completed facade, as he died in 1597.
Pope St Caius
St Genesius
The statues in the lower storey are St Susanna and St Felicity of Rome and in the upper storey PopeSt Caius and St Genesius.
St Susanna
St Felicity of Rome
The statues may be the work of Stefano Maderno (c. 1576-1637).
The Prophet Daniel Comes to the Aid of Susanna
The frescoes in the nave are the work of Baldassare Croce (1558-1628) and depict scenes from the Old Testament Susanna. According to the story she was a Jewish woman who was a victim of false charges of impurity, but who was saved by the prophet Daniel.
Apse
The frescoes in the sanctuary are by Cesare Nebbia (1536-1614) and depict scenes from the life of St Susanna. The Beheading of St Susanna, on the high altar, is by Tommaso Laureti (1530-1602).
The Wooden Ceiling (det.)
The finely carved wooden ceiling has been ascribed to Baldassare Croce (1568-1628). The central panel depicts the Madonna and Child with Cardinal Rusticucci.