Santa Maria ad Martyres

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Map

Interior

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Santa Maria ad Martyres, also known as the Pantheon, is a 2nd century Roman temple, which was consecrated as a church in the early 7th century. The dedication is to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs.

In the middle of the 7th century, the gilded bronze tiles on the roof of the pantheon were plundered by the Byzantine emperor Constans II (r. 641-68). ​The tiles were later replaced by sheets of lead. 

The Pantheon With its Two 17th Century Bell Towers.

​Almost a thousand years later, Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44) added a pair of bell towers (wrongly attributed to Bernini), which came to be known as the "asses' ears". They were removed in 1883. 

The high altar and the apse were rebuilt by Pope Clement XI (r. 1700-1721). The icon of the Madonna is a copy.

In May 2018, a new gilded bronze altar was consecrated. The sculptor is Federico Severino, who also created the Stations of the Cross and the ambo. 

The Annunciaion by Melozzo da Forli

The first chapel on the right is the Chapel of the Annunciation, which has a fresco of the Annunciation attributed to Melozzo da Forli.

Tomb of King Vittorio Emanuele II

The second chapel, which was formerly dedicated to the Holy Spirit, is home to the tomb of Victor Emmanuel II (r. 1861-78), the first king of Italy, who died on January 9th 1878. 

Tomb of Raphael

The tomb of the great Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520) is situated on the left side of the church. 

Plaque to Arcangelo Corelli

Santa Maria ad Martyres is also the final resting-place of the composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). ​

Tomb of King Umberto I

The tomb of King Umberto I (r. 1878-1900), and his wife Margherita di Savoia, stands opposite that of his father.

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