Santa Maria in Via
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Santa Maria in Via | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | Our Lady in the Street |
| Dedication: | Blessed Virgin |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Type: | Titular church |
| Clergy: | Servite Order |
| Built: | 1491-1513 |
| Architect(s): | da Volterra Lombardi |
| Artists: | |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | Via del Mortaro 24 (Largo Chigi)
00187 Roma |
| Phone: | 06 67 93 841 |
| Fax: | 06 67 96 760 |
Santa Maria in Via is a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Contents |
[edit] History
An older chapel or church is mentioned on the site in the 10th. In 1165 it is recorded under the name Santa Maria in Via. A strange name, considering that most churches are fairly close to a street, but this one is named because of its proximity to the Via Flaminia, which was the main road in the area.
In the 13th century, Cardinal Pietro Capocci had a house here, and there was a well in his stable yard. On the night of 26 September 1256, it overflowed. The horses were frightened, and when the domestics rushed out they found an icon of the Blessed Virgin, painted on a stone, floating on the water. Pope Alexander IV declared it a miracle, and ordered the construction of a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The new chapel incorporated the older church.
The present church was built 1491-1513, on orders from Pope Innocent VIII. In 1494, he made it a parochial church.
In 1513, it was granted to the Servite Order by Pope Leo X (1513-1521). They still serve the church.
It was restructured in 1594 by Francesco da Volterra, and later by Carlo Lombardi. The work was completed at the request of Cardinal St Robert Bellarmine, titular of the church, in 1604.
It was established as a cardinalitial titular church in 1551 by Pope Julius III. The first titular priest was Cardinal Giuliuo della Cornea O.S.Hier. (1551-1555). Among other titulars we find, as mentioned above, St Robert Bellarmine S.J. (1599-1620), a Jesuit who was one of the foremost champions of the Catholic cause during the Counter-Reformation. The current titular priest of the church is H.E. Cardinal Antonio José González Zumárraga, archbishop of Quito, Ecuador; he was appointed on February 21, 2001.
[edit] Exterior
The façade was designed by Giacomo della Porta, and completed by Carlo Rainaldi, who made some alterations to the upper of the two stories.
[edit] Interior
The nave has a single aisle with four chapels on each side. The ceiling has an 18th century fresco by Gian Domenico Pestrini. The floor was relaid in 1933.
The marble high altar is from 1758. Over the high altar, in the apse, is a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows; the Servites have a special devotion to her.
In the first chapel on the right, constructed by Monsignor Canobio, is the holy well. The chapel is built around the well, and the icon is preserved there. It is painted on a tile fragment. In 1646, it was crowned by the Vatican and framed in polychrome marble. A Servite friar will serve you fresh water from the well. The chapel is also decorated with a painting of The Annunciation by Aldobrandini and The Adoration of the Magi and The Nativity by Cavalier d'Arpino.
In the second chapel on the right is an altarpiece depicting St Philip Benizi, one of the founders of the Servite Order, by Tommaso Luini. In the ceiling is a fresco by Niccoló Pomerancio.
The fourth chapel on the right was designed by Carlo Lombardi, and is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. The frescoes by Consolani depict The Most Holy Trinity (in the centre), Sts John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, Mary Magdalene and another saint. Francesco Lombardi's fresco depicts The Apparition to Abraham of Three Angels. Cherubino Alberti's fresco depicts The Ark of the Old Testament.
In the chapel opposite the well, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle, there is a medieval painting of the Blessed Virgin, known as Our Lady of the Fire.
The second chapel on the left is dedicated to The Most Holy Heart of Jesus. It has an altarpiece from 1961 by Tarsicio Bendini.
The third chapel on the left is dedicated to the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, and the fourth to St Pellegrino Laziosi.
[edit] Special notes
There is a feast of the Madonna of the holy well on 8 September, and a night vigil on 26 September, the anniversary of the miracle of the well.
The feast of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order is celebrated on 17 February, and the feast of St Pellegrino Laziosi on 1 May.
Normally open 07.00 to 20.00. Mass celebrated several times daily.
