Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Santa Maria della Concezione de Cappuccini | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins |
| Dedication: | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Clergy: | Capuchins |
| Built: | 1626-1631 |
| Architect(s): | Antonio Casoni |
| Artists: | Domenichino, Gherardo delle Notti, Guido Reni |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 27 Via Veneto 00187 Roma |
| Phone: | 06 45 28 50 |
| Homepage: | Official site |
Santa Maria della Concezione de Cappuccini is a Capuchin church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The church is also known as Santa Maria Immacolata (Our Lady the Immaculate) and Chiesa dei Cappuccini (Church of the Capuchins). It should not be confused with Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio.
[edit] History
It was designed by Antonio Casoni and built 1626-1631 for Antonio Barberini, a Capuchin and twin brother of Pope Urban VIII. The Capuchins still serve the church.
The façade and the steps leading to the church were altered in the 20th century.
[edit] Exterior
About halfway up the stairs to the church, on the right side, you will find the entrance to the ossuary of the Capuchin friars . When one of the friars dies, he is buried in a vault, and after some time the bones are retrieved and placed in this ossuary, where they are arranged in a macabre style. There are now bones from more than 4.000 brothers who died between 1528 and 1870 in the ossuary.
[edit] Interior
The church has a single nave, and ten side chapels.
In the second chapel on the left side, beneath the altar, lies the body of St Felix of Cantalice. His portrait is by Alessandro Turchi.
On the right side, the first chapel has two famous paintings: St Michael the Archangel by Guido Reni, painted in 1630, and Christ Mocked by Gherardo delle Notti. The tomb of Blessed Crispin of Viterbo is in the third chapel on the same side.
The painting of St Francis with the Stigmata is by Domenichino.
In the sacristy is a painting of the Praying St Francis by Caravaggio
Cardinal Antonio Barberini, who provided funds for the church, was buried here in 1646. The inscription on his tomb says "Here lies dust and ashes, nothing else".
