San Pietro in Montorio

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Map of the Churches of Rome

San Pietro in Montorio

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Of ancient foundation, the church of San Pietro in Montorio was built on what was wrongly thought to be the site of the execution of St Peter. The church was rebuilt during the reign of Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471-84), at the expense of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille.

Nave

The nave is flanked by four chapels on each side. 

Cupola

There is sail-like cupola over the crossing. 

Sanctuary

The sanctuary is 19th century, having had to be rebuilt after 1849.

Flagellation of Christ by Sebastiano del Piombo

Perhaps, the most famous work of art in the church is the Flagellation of Christ by the Venetian artist Sebastiano Luciani (c. 1485-1547), better known as Sebastiano del Piombo, which can be found in the first chapel on the right. 

Cappella del Monte

The Cappella del Monte, which is dedicated to St Paul, occupies the right transept. It was designed by Giorgio Vasari (1511-74), who painted the altarpiece of The Conversion of St Paul. To the sides are memorials to Antonio and Fabiano del Monte. Above the reclining statues are allegories of Justice and Religion. All the sculptures are the work of Bartolomeo Ammannati (1511-92). The beautiful balustrade features eight marble putti and two bas-reliefs of a man and woman.

Apse Vault, Cappella del Monte

The vault of the apse of the Cappella del Monte is richly decorated. 

Cappella Ricci

Directly opposite, in the left transept, is the Cappella Ricci, which is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The altarpiece is by Daniele da Volterra (c. 1509-66) and depicts The Baptism of Christ. The statues of St Peter and St Paul are by Leonardo Sormani.

​The balustrades with putti, which match the chapel opposite, sport two bas-reliefs of a hedgehog (riccio in Italian).

Chapel of the Pietà

The Chapel of the Pieta (fourth left) boasts a good painting of The Deposition (1617), the work of the young Dutch artist Dirk van Baburen (c. 1595-1624), who was a follower of Caravaggio. 

Cupola, Chapel of the Pieta

The very fine stucco work of the cupola is attributed to Giulio Mazzoni (1525-1618). ​

Cappella Raimondi

The second chapel on the left is the Cappella Raimondi, which is dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. It was designed (c. 1640s) by Bernini. 

The Ecstasy of St Francis by Francesco Baratta

The altarpiece is a bas-relief of The Ecstasy of St Francis by Francesco Baratta (1590-1666). ​

Funerary Monument to Francesco Raimondi

There are no inscriptions in the chapel, but the monument on the left wall is to Francesco Raimondi, while the one on the right is to Girolamo Raimondi. Each monument comprises a bust of the deceased above a sarcophagus. The raised lids of the sarcophagi reveal their 'bodies' inside. The idea of depicting the deceased both dead and alive on the same tomb originated in France and was common from the Middle-Ages onwards.  ​

Funerary Monument to Girolamo Raimondi

The busts and putti are by Andrea Bolgi (1605-56), while the reliefs on the sarcophagi, which depict the resurrection of the dead, are by Niccolo Sale. 

Funerary Monument to Archbishop Giuliano Maffei

To one side of the entrance stands a fine funerary monument to Archbishop Giuliano Maffei, who died in 1505. The effigy of the deceased is surmounted by the Madonna and Child flanked by St Antony of Padua and St Bernardino of Siena.   

The 'Tempietto' by Bramante

In the courtyard to the right of San Pietro in Montorio stands Bramante's Tempietto, one of the iconic buildings of Renaissance architecture. ​​

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