San Silvestro al Quirinale
From Churches of Rome Wiki
San Silvestro al Quirinale St Sylvester's at the Quirinal
10 Via XXIV Maggio 00187 Roma Tel. 06 67 90 240
Church dedicated to Pope St Sylvester. History
The church is first mentioned in 1039.
It was granted to the Dominicans of the Florentine Congregation of St Mark by Pope Julius II in 1507.
It was rebuilt 1524-1584, when it was taken over by the Theatine Order. The high altar was consecrated in 1584 by Bishop Thomas Goldwell of St Asaph's in North Wales, the last Catholic bishop in England under Queen Mary Tudor's reign.
In 1801, it was granted to the Lazarists, having been abandoned by the Theatines some years before.
In the period when conclaves to elect a new Pope were held at the Quirinal Palace, the inaugural procession of the Cardinals started from this church. Exterior
When the street was widened in 1877, the 16th century façade was replaced with the current one. The old façade had been of simple construction, while the present one, by Andrea Busiri Vici is more decorated. It has two levels, crowned by a tympanon. To the sides of the door are votive niches. To the left is a small doorway, leading to a staircase which would take you to the second floor of the church; this is normally closed.
There is a small garden outside the church, with a 16th century oratory that was used in funerals. The façade, which is decorated in stucco is original. Interior
The church originally had a Latin cross plan. When the street was widened in 1877, the two first chapels were demolished, so the plan is today something in between a Latin and a Greek cross. There is a single nave, with two chapels on each side and a large choir.
The renaissance interior is almost completely covered with paintings. Two of the best are in the pilasters of the nave, depticting St Francis and St John the Baptist.
The 16th century coffered ceiling is richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. The main motifs are Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter and the Madonna and Child.
There is a long, vaulted choir behind the altar. In the ceiling is a fresco from the late 16th century by Cherubino and Giovanni Alberti. On the left wall is a fresco by Lazzaro Baldi, depicting St Gaetano and the Blessed Virgin.
The first chapel on the right side has a floor from 1525. The tiles were made by Luca della Robbia, and has the arms of Pope Leo X. On the walls are frescoes depicting scenes from the lives of St Catherine of Siena and St Mary Magdalene. In the ceiling, Cavaliere d'Arpino has painted scenes from the life of St Stephen the Deacon. At the altar is a Madonna with Child and Saints from the 16th century.
In the second chapel on the right side is a painting depicting the Nativity of Mary, painted by Marcello Venusti in the 16th century. On the walls are the Circumcision of Christ and Adoration of the Magi by Jacopo Zucchi and The Dream of St Joseph and The Slaughter of the Innocents by Raffaelino da Reggio.
The first chapel on the left side has a fresco by Avanzino Nucci, Pope St Sylvester Baptizing Emperor Constantine. In the ceiling are scenes from the life of St Sylvester, painted in 1868.
The altarpiece in the second chapel on the left is by Giacinto Gimignani, and depicts Pope St Pius V and Cardinal Alessandrino in Adoration of the Virgin. In the centre is an icon of the Madonna with Child of the Roman school, 13th century.
The Chapel of the Assumption, also known as the Cappella Bandini, is at the back of the left transept. It is a large, octagonal, domed chapel designed by Ottaviano Mascherino in 1585. The four painted roundels depicting scenes from the lives of David, Judith, Esther and Solomon are by Domenichino, done in 1628. There are four stucco statues; The Magdalene and St John from 1628, by Allessandro Algardi, and St Joseph and St Martha by Francesco Mochi.
In the right arm of the transept is a depiction of The Eternal Appearing to Sts Andrew Avellino and Gaetano Thiene, by Antonio Barbalonga. Special notes
The Feast of St Sylvester is celebrated on 31 December, and that of St Vincent of Paul on 27 September.
