San Rocco
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| San Rocco | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | St Roch |
| Dedication: | St Roch |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Built: | 1499, rebuilt 1657 |
| Architect(s): | |
| Artists: | |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 1 Largo San Rocco |
San Rocco is a church dedicated to St Roch.
Contents |
[edit] History
The church was founded in 1499 by Pope Alexander VI. It started out as the chapel of an adjacent hospital. At first the hospital was for men only, but later a maternity wing for women from the Tiber barges was added. With time, the hospital came to be used mainly by unmarried mothers. A wing was set aside for those who did not wish to give their name, and the patients were even permitted to wear veils to protect their anonymity. In the beginning of the 20th century, the hospital was closed, and in the 1930's, it was demolished during the excavations of the Mausoleum of Augustus.
The church was rebuilt in 1657 to a design by G.A. De Rossi, and later changes were made introducing the Neo-Classical style to it.
[edit] Exterior
The façade is by Giuseppe Valadier, and was constructed in 1834. It is clearly influenced by Palladio's designs.
[edit] Interior
There are some nice painting, including one of the Nativity and one of St Martin of Tours dividing his cloak. The carved organ case is impressive.
A Baroque altarpiece in the sacristy is by Il Baciccia.
At the end of the right aisle is a shrine to the 17th century image of the Madonna delle Grazie, Our Lady of Graces.
[edit] Special notes
The second day of each month is devoted to Our Lady of Graces, a devotion that goes back to 1645.
