Destinations / The most beautiful churches of Italy / Santa Maria del Popolo

 

  It was built on the spot where emperor Nero was buried once. In medieval times, the Romans were convinced that devil has settled in the tomb of the Emperor. In 1099, Pope Urban II ordered to throw the ashes of Nero in the Tiber and destroy the tomb, and to build a church dedicated to Virgin Mary on its place. The original Romanesque church was greatly altered in the 13th century, and in 1472 – 1477, it was completely rebuilt. An impressive number of Renaissance artists were brought to decorate the church and its chapel. With a rather modest, even inconspicuous exterior, the interior of the church is very rich, splendid and has an undoubted artistic value. The wall and ceiling murals offer it a special charm and beauty. In the middle of the church there are two sarcophagi of the Popes. 

 

  One of the main points of interest here is the Chigi Chapel (1513), designed and built by Raphael for Agostino Chigi, a Siena banker and his patron in the early 16th century. The interior of the chapel is almost entirely done by Raphael, except for a few medallions by Bernini on gravestones of Chigi family, and the altar work by Sebastiano del Piombo. Among the other treasures of the Santa Maria del Popolo, there are the works by Caravaggio, a series of frescoes (1485 - 1489), Pinturicchio and tombstones (1505 - 1507) in the chorus of Andrea Sansovino. The main altar is decorated with the painting “Madonna del Popolo" dating from the XIIIth century. On the left of the main altar in the chapel there are two paintings by Caravaggio: "The Conversion of Saul" and "The Crucifixion of St. Peter" as well as the "Ascension of the Virgin” by Carracci.

 

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