Rione IV Campo Marzio in Roma in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Latium, Rome, Italy — Central Italy (Tyrrhenian Coast)
Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo
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Church of Saint Mary of the People
Photographed by James Hulse, February 26, 2024
1. Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo / Church of Saint Mary of the People Marker
Architettura: A. Bregno (1418-1503), D. Bramante (1444-1514); Raffaello (1483-1520), G. L. Bernini (1598-1680) Pittura: Pinturicchio (1454c.-1513), Sebastiano del Piombo (1485-1547), F. Salviati (1509-1563), Caravaggio (1571-1610) Scultura: A. Bregno (1418-1503), Mino da Fiesole (1429-1484), A. Sansovino (1460c.-1529), Lorenzetto (1490-1541), G. L. Bernini (1598-1680), A. Algardi (1595-1654), A. Raggi (1624-1686), E. Ferrata (1610-1686)
Secondo una leggenda medievale, dalle ceneri dell'imperatore Nerone, racchiuse nel sepolcro dei Seco Domizi alle pendici del Pincio, era nato un albero di noce infestato da diavoli sotto forma di corvi. Nel 1099, al fine di esorcizzare la zona, e in segno di ringraziamento per la liberazione di Gerusalemme, avvenuta nel luglio di quell'anno a termine della Prima Crociata, il pontefice Pasquale II edificò, una cappella in onore della Vergine Maria che, eretta a spese del Popolo Romano, fu chiamata S. Maria del Popolo. L'edificio fu ingrandito nel 1227 da papa Gregorio IX che, nel 1235, vi collocò la venerata icona della Madonna del Popolo (sec. XIII). In seguito, la chiesa venne completamente ricostruita sotto papa Sisto IV, probabilmente su progetto di Andrea Bregno (1472-1477); sembra che si debba all'influenza dei Padri Agostiniani della Congregazione Lombarda, committenti dell'impresa,
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La facciata, in travertino, posta su un'alta gradinata, è a due ordini di paraste corinzie che la tripartiscono seguendo la divisione interna delle navate; nel timpano della porta centrale, Madonna con Bambino, opera di bottega di Andrea Bregno (sec. XV); nel grande timpano triangolare che conclude il prospetto, i rami di quercia alludono a Sisto IV Della Rovere che fece costruire la chiesa, i sei monti al vertice ricordano il restauro voluto da Alessandro VII Chigi. In facciata, il Bernini aggiunse i timpani sulle porte laterali, trasformò l'antico rosone in un finestrone circolare, eliminò le bifore alle
Photographed by James Hulse, February 26, 2024
2. Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo / Church of Saint Mary of the People Marker
Didascalie
(Foto #1) Cappella Chigi Decorazione della cupola
(Foto #2) Pianta
(Foto #3) Prospetto
Architecture: A. Bregno (1418-1503), D. Bramante (1444-1514), Raphael (1483-1520), G. L. Bernini (1598-1680) Painting: Pinturicchio (1454c.-1513), Sebastiano del Piombo (1485-1547), F. Salviati (1509-1563), Caravaggio (1571-1610) Sculpture: A. Bregno (1418-1503),
Photographed by James Hulse, February 26, 2024
3. Church of Saint Mary of the People
The marker is located on the far right side of the church behind the group of people.
According to a Medieval legend a walnut tree infested by devils in the guise of crows rose from the ashes of the Emperor Nero which were kept in the tomb of the Domitians on the slopes of the Pincio Hill. In 1099, with the aim of exorcising the area, and giving thanks for the liberation of Jerusalem, which had occurred in July of that year at the end of the First Crusade, Pope Pasqual II built a chapel in honour of the Virgin Mary which was built and paid for by the people of Rome and called "Santa Maria del Popolo" (St. Mary of the People). The building was enlarged in 1227 by Pope Gregory IX who, in 1235, placed there the venerated icon of the "Madonna del Popolo" (13th century). Later the church was completely rebuilt under Pope Sixtus IV probably on a project by Andrea Bregno (1472-1477). It would seem to have been the Augustinian Fathers of the Lombard Congregration, who had commissioned the church, who influenced the use of Lombardy-style elements such as the bell tower with pinnacles at the corners and with a conic cusp covered in terracotta, the octagonal drum of the dome and the chapels on a polygonal plan. The church, which has maintained its 15th-century appearance, was partly modified at the start of the 16th century by Donato Bramante who, extending the choir stall, also built the main chapel with a caisson vault and the new apse with a semidome shaped like a huge shell (1503 approximately). In 1513 Raphael started work on the admirable Chigi Chapel. In 1627 Cardinal Antonio
Photographed by James Hulse, February 26, 2024
4. The nearby Piazza del Popolo
The travertine façade, on a high stairway is on two orders of Corinthian pilasters which divide it into three sections corresponding to the internal naves. In the tympanum of the central door there is a "Madonna and Child" by Andrea Bregno (15th century); in the large triangular tympanum at the end of the front elevation the oak branches allude to Sixtus IV della Rovere who built the church while the six mountains at the top recall the restoration carried out under Alessandro VII Chigi. Bernini added the tympanums on the side doors of the façade and transformed the ancient rose window into a circular window, he also eliminated the two-light mullioned windows and accentuated the movement of the side scrolls by adding curved half tympanums and floral garlands.
Down the centuries many illustrious personages patronised the various chapels in Santa Maria del Popolo and each one of them has a long history and is embellished with works of art. Some of Italy's greatest 15th-century sculptors worked on this church including Andrea Bregno, Mino da Fiesole, Giovanni Dalmata, il Valsoldo, il Vecchietta and Giovanni di Stefano. Worthy of mention are some very fine windows, fire-painted by Guillaume de Marcillac, showing Stories of the Virgin and of Jesus' Childhood (1509); the famous Chigi Chapel was designed by Raphael for Agostino Chigi, a wealthy banker, who wished to make this his family's tomb; it was completed by Bernini (1652-1656); the Cerasi Chapel is renowned for two works by Caravaggio, the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul (1600-1601), among the painter's major works of art; the Millini Chapel contains a funeral monument to Cardinal Garcia Millini, made to a design by Alessandro Algardi who also sculpted a dramatic bust of the deceased Cardinal (1637-1638).
Captions
(Photo #1) Chigi Chapel Dome Decoration
(Photo #2) Floor Plan
(Photo #3) Elevation
Erected by Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities Superintendency for Artistic and Historical Heritage of Rome Superintendency for Environmental and Architectural Heritage of Rome City of Rome - Department for Cultural Policies - Superintendency for Cultural Heritage - Department for Tourism and Jubilee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1099 CE.
Location. 41° 54.675′ N, 12° 28.577′ E. Marker is in Roma, Lazio (Latium, Rome), in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale. It is in Rione IV Campo Marzio. It is on Piazza del Popolo just west of Viale Gabriele D'Annunzio. The marker is located on the southwest corner of the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Piazza del Popolo 12, Roma, Lazio 00187, Italy. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, the Schengen Area, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire and specifically also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chiesa di Santa Maria di Montesanto / Church of Saint Mary of Montesanto (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli / Church of Saint Mary of Miracles (about 150 meters away); Hotel de Russie (about 180 meters away); Prince Girolamo Napoleone (about 180 meters away); Hotel Palazzo Nainer (about 180 meters away); Eleonora de Fonseca Pimentel (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Official connection between Via Del Babuino and Madison Avenue (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Juliusz Słowacki (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roma.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 9, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
