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Santi Apostoli Holy Apostles

Piazza dei Santi Apostoli Normally open daily 07.00-12.00 and 16.00-19.00.

Church dedicated to the Apostles. History

The first church on the site may have been founded in the time of Pope Julius I (337-352); there are indications of this in the Liber Pontificalis. However, the first church we have certain knowledge about was founded by Pope Pelagius I (556-561) in commemoration of a victory over the Goths and their expulsion by the Byzantine viceroy Narses. It was completed by John III (561-574), and dedicated to the Apostles St James and St Philip. It was restored by Pope Stephen VI (885-891).

In 1348, the church was severely damaged by an earthquake, and had to be abandoned. It was again restored in 1417 by Pope Martin V, whose family, the Colonnas, owned the surrounding area. The church was considered almost as the family chapel of the Colonna family. The façade was rebuilt in at the end of the 15th century by Baccio Pontelli. The church was rededicated to all the Apostles in the 16th century.

His design was changed when Carlo Rainaldi walled up the arches on the upper level, changed the windows into the Baroque style and added the statues of Christ and the Apostles in the 17th century.

A new restoration took place under Pope Clement XI (1700-1721), carried out by Carlo and Francesco Fontana. The present façade was designed by Valadier in 1827.

One of the priests who have served in this church is Father Felix, later Pope Sixtus V. The church is now served by Conventual Franciscans, whose Generalate is adjacent to the church.

The current titular of the church is Angelo Cardinal Scola, who was created cardinal on 21 October 2003. Exterior

The façade is unusual, and makes the church look almost like a palace. There is a 15th century Renaissance double loggia with nine arches, attributed to Baccio Pontelli and financed by Cardinal della Rovere, later Pope Julius II. The upper storey was filled in with Baroque windows c. 1665 by Carlo Rainaldi. He also designed the balustrade with statues of the Apostles. Finally, new elements were added by Valadier in 1827.

Under the portico is a 1st or 2nd century Roman bas-relief in bronze depicting an eagle holding an oak-wreath. It was found in the Forum of Trajan. There is also a stone lion signed by Vassalletto supporting a pillar and fragments of early Christian sculpture and tombstones. On the left is a memorial from 1807 to the engraver Giovanni Volpato, made by Antonio Canova.

The narthex was designed by Baccio Pontelli in the 15th century. Behind the church is the Gregoriania, Rome's most famous Catholic university.

The church has two Renaissance cloisters. The can be entered at No. 51. There is a monument to Michelangelo, who was buried here for a time before his body was brought home to Florence. There is also a bas-relief by the school of Arnolfo di Cambio and an early Christian sarcophagus. You will also find a double inscription in Latin and Greek, which was dictated by Cardinal Bessarion for his tomb.

Next to the church is the Palazzo Santi Apostoli, built in the 15th century and owned by the Holy See. Interior

The 18m wide nave has three aisles divided by pillars. There are twelve chapels in all, with three domed ones on each side. The Baroque interior was designed by Carlo and Francesco Fontana, and was completed in 1714.

The fresco in the vault of the central nave is by Baciccia, painted in 1707. It depicts the Triumph of the Order of St Francis. There are also frescoes of the Evangelists by Luigi Fontana. The use of perspective is very good, and the angels appear to come out of the vault. Above the sanctuary is a fresco from 1709 by Giovanni Odazzi, the Rebel Angels. Again the use of perspective is excellent, and the angels really look as if they're falling out of the sky.

The first chapel on the right-hand side, the Chapel of the Immaculate, has a 15th century Madonna, which was donated to the church by Cardinal Bessarion (1403-1472). The cardinal is buried in the church.

On a pier of the nave on the right-hand side, near the first chapel, is the burial site of the heart of Clementina Sobieska, wife of the Old Pretender, James III Stuart. Her actual tomb is at S Pietro in Vaticano. Her monument is by Filippo della Valle. Her husband used to pray here every morning. James III was laid in state here himself in 1766, before he was buried with his wife at St Peter's.

The Chapel of the Crucifixion on the right-hand side is divided into three small naves. The 8 columns are from the 6th century church. The chapel was founded by Faustina Inquilina.

The 18th century altarpiece, possibly the largest in Rome, is by Domenico Muratori, depicting the Martyrdoms of the Apostles James and Philip.

To the right of the high altar are the tombs of Count Giraud de Caprières (died 1505) and Raffaele Cardinal Riario (died 1474), tentatively attributed to Michelangelo. To the left is a monument to Cardinal Riario, by the school of Andrea Bregno and possible designed by Bregno himself. There is also a Madonna by Mino da Fiesole.

The apse was decorated with frescoes by Melozzo da Forli in the 15th century. To preserve them, they have been moved; partly to the Quirinal and partly to the Vatican Museums.

The confessio was constructed in 1837. During construction, the relics of St James and St Philip were rediscovered. You may enter if the gates are open. If there is a friar nearby, ask him to turn on the lights, as it is quite dark in the crypt. The paintings are reproductions of catacomb paintings, and the relics preserved here were taken from the catacombs in the 9th century to protect them from invaders. An inscription explains that one of those who helped move the relics was Pope Stephen IV, who in 886 walked barefoot from the catacombs to the church carrying them on his shoulders. The tomb of Raffaele della Rovere (died 1477), brother of Pope Sixtus IV and father of Pope Julius II, is found in the chapel on the left side of the crypt. It was designed by Andrea Bregno. The other chapels were decorated 1876-1877 in the style of the catacombs. Architectural remains from the earlier church are visible.

Pope Clement XIV (1769-1774) is buried in the last chapel on the left side. His Neo-classical tomb is by Antonio Canova, made in 1783-1787. This was the first major work Canova did in Rome.

On the second pillar on the left side is the epitaph of Cardinal Bessarion, and a 16th century portrait of him. His mortal remains were moved here as late as 1957.

The second chapel on the left has an altarpiece from 1777 by Giuseppe Cades, depicting St Joseph of Copertino. The two columns of verde antico, green marble, are the largest known in that type of stone.