Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Sant'Andrea della Valle


where: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
getting there: bus #64 or #40
open: 7:30-12:30 & 16:30-19:30

Construction of the Baroque church of Sant'Andrea della Valle first began in 1590, it was eventually completed in 1650 after contributions from three papal families and the work of four architects.
During 1608, when the church interior was being decorated, there was fierce competition between Domenichino and Giovanni Lanfranco, two artists originally from the Carracci studio.
They were both employed to decorate the church and fought to win the prestigious commission to decorate the church dome. Giovanni Lanfranco won the commission and went on to paint the dome fresco of the Celestial Glory, completed in 1627. 
At the main altar are Mattia Preti's large paintings showing Saint Andrew's Martyrdom, these paintings run across the entire apse wall. The frescoes above are by Domenichino.
In the Chapel of St Andrew Avellino are the frescoes, Death of a Saint by Lanfranco and the figures of the Evangelists in the spandrels by Domenichino.
In the Barberini Chapel is a sculpture of Saint John the Baptist by Pietro Bernini, father of Gianlorenzo Bernini.
In the Chapel Rucellai o Dei Beati the Archangel Gabriel in the Presence of the Eternal Father, Archangel Raphael and Tobias the Elder and the cupola fresco, Glory of Music Making Angels are by Cristoforo Roncalli.
In the Strozzi Chapel are the bronze copies of Michelangelo's Pieta, Leah and Rachel by Gregorio De Rossi.
In the Barberini Chapel are Passignano's Assumption altarpiece and his paintings Visitation and Lucia and St Sebastiano.




Mattia Preti

Giovanni Lanfranco









Artists in Sant'Andrea della Valle
Domenico Cresti
Pietro Bernini
Passignano

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Getting Around

I found walking Rome was the best way to see everything.

The metro, trams and buses are also an easy and cheap option.

Buses and the metro can get crowded. Tickets must be bought before boarding and validated.

Beware of pickpockets.

Buses 40 (express) and 64 start at Termini and end near Saint Peter's, traveling past places of interest, returning the same way.


Some stops along the 64 route are:

Repubblica

Piazza Venezia

Via Nazionale

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II


Bus 75 takes you past the Colosseum to Trastevere

Bus 910 takes you to Villa Borghese


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These are a few of my favourite books about Rome

The Cardinal's Hat by Mary Hollingsworth
This book tells the story of one of the sons of Lucrezia Borgia who became a cardinal during the 16th century.

The Tigress of Forli by Elizabeth Lev
I love this book telling the story of Caterina Sforza who was fighting against the Borgia pope to retain the rights of her land and her freedom.

The Popes by John Julius Norwich
A detailed but easy and enjoyable book to read about the history of the papacy and the popes.

The Pope's Daughter by Caroline P Murphy
This book describes in beautiful detail, the life and times of Pope Julius II daughter, Felice della Rovere.

The Families Who Made Rome by Anthony Majanlahti
I love this Book! It explains the families who made Rome what it is as we see it today and also looks at their triumphs, scandals and failures.

Rome by Robert Hughes
This book explains Rome from its beginning and expands on the Renaissance and Baroque until present times.

The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Another of my favourite reads about a lost Caravaggio painting and the search for its provenance.





other sites I trust for information on Rome are:
Rome Art Lover
Churches of Rome wiki