La Maddalena
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| La Maddalena | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | The Magdalene |
| Dedication: | Mary Magdalene |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Clergy: | Priests Ministers of the Sick |
| Built: | 1669–1698 |
| Architect(s): | Carlo Fontana, G.C. Quadrio |
| Artists: | |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | Piazza della Maddalena |
La Maddalena is a church dedicated to St Mary Magdelene. The full name of the church is Santa Maria Maddalena, but this is very rarely used. It is served by the Priests Ministers of the Sick.
[edit] History
It was built between 1669 and 1698 by Carlo Fontana and G.C. Quadrio. La Maddalena is the only true Rococo church in Rome
[edit] Exterior
The Rococo façade was completed in 1735, and has since been completely restored. The stucco on the façade is referred to as "icing sugar" by some, and some wanted to rebuild it completely in Neo-Classical style.
[edit] Interior
The church is cruciform, but the nave is an added ellipse.
The frecoes in the vault of the nave, dome, transepts, over the chancel and in the apse are from the early 18th century. The fresco in the vault depicts The raising of Lazarus at the prayer of his sister Mary, and the apse fresco, by Aureliano Milani, shows The Preaching of Christ.
The sculptures at the sides of the altar are by P. Bracci, depicting Mary Magdalene arriving at the empty tomb and encountering Christ in the garden.
In the chapel off the right arm of the transept is a miraculous crucifix, said to have disengaged its arm to comfort St Camillus de Lellis in 1582. The saint's tomb is beneath the large altar on the right side. He lived in the adjacent monastery, and died in his rooms in 1614. The rooms of St Camillus can be visited; you will probably have to ask the sacristan.
Above the second altar on the left side of the nave is a painting of the Madonna holding the Divine Child, by Giordano. Tradition claims that he painted the canvas in just one night. On the right side is a Madonna known as Health to the Sick, from the 15th century.
