Santa Maria ai Monti

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Map of the Churches of Rome

Santa Maria ai Monti

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Santa Maria a Monti, also known as the Madonna dei Monti, is a late 16th century/early 17th century parish church. 

The church was built to celebrate the discovery of a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary in the ruins of a convent of the Poor Clares, which once stood on the site.

Nave

The interior comprises a nave with three chapels on either side. 

High Altar

The venerated icon of the Virgin Mary is enshrined in the high altar. 

The apse wall has five frescoes by Giacinto Gimignani (1606-81), which depict: St Michael Defeating Satan, The Crucifixion, The Baptism of St Processus and St Martinian by St Peter, The Resurrected Christ Appears to the Virgin Mary and The Baptism of Christ.

Vault of the Nave

The ceiling of the nave is barrel-vaulted. The frescoes are by the Roman painter Cristoforo Casolani (c. 1582 - c. 1629). The central fresco depicts The Ascension of Christ, while the figures in the side panels are the first four Doctors of the Church. 

Dome

The dome is very beautiful, especially in the late afternoon sun. This exquisite stucco work is anonymous, but the frescoes of the four Evangelists in the pendentives are the work of Casolani. The four statues that stand in the niches of the dome depict the four major prophets of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah, David and Daniel). They were executed in 1599 by Giovanni Anguilla.  

St Benedict Joseph Labre by Achille Albacini

In the left arm of the transept is the shrine and effigy of St Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-83), who died in a house. The effigy of the dying saint was executed by the Roman sculptor Achille Albacini (1841-1914). 

Bust of Tommaso Sergio

In the right arm of the transept is a strikingly lifelike bust (1752) of Tommaso Sergio. 

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