Friday, October 12, 2018

Santa Maria del Popolo


where: Piazza del Popolo
open: 7:00-12:00 and 16:00-19:00
getting there: metro linea A/Flaminio
information: don't wander in the church while mass is being held (mass times are displayed at the entry)

Santa Maria del Popolo is one of my favourite churches to visit in Rome. 
The church was first built in 1099 by Pope Pascal II after his vision of the Madonna. She asked him to build a church to rid the area of the evil spirits caused by the ghost of Emperor Nero, the persecutor of Christians.
The church was rebuilt in the 15th century and later decorated with artworks by Caravaggio, Raphael, Carlo Maratta and Bernini.

In the Cerasi Chapel are two paintings by Caravaggio on the chapel's left and right walls. The Crucifixion of Saint Peter and the Conversion of Saul were painted on large canvases and date from 1602.
The altarpiece of the Assumption of the Virgin is by Annibale Carracci and was painted around the same time. Carracci also painted the chapel's vault frescoes. (The chapel is quite dark and can be lit with a €2 coin to see the paintings)

Raphael designed and decorated the Chigi Chapel for Agostino Chigi in 1513. It was completed by Bernini in 1652 for the Chigi Pope Alexander VII.
The chapel holds two of Bernini's statues, Habakkuk and the Angel and Daniel and the Lion. The altarpiece of the Nativity of the Virgin is by Sebastiano del Piombo.
The church apse was designed by Bramante and the vault frescoes, and the frescoes in the Della Rovere Chapel are by Pinturicchio.

Carlo Maratta

Caravaggio - right wall
Caravaggio - left wall


Annibale Carracci
Chigi Chapel



Artists in Santa Maria del Popolo
Raphael
Sebastiano del Piombo
Pinturicchio
Carlo Maratta
Daniel Seyter
Giacomo Triga




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Helpful Hints

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


Ticket Options

€1.50 B.I.T (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo) is the standard ticket valid for one metro, unlimited tram or bus rides within 100 minutes.


€7.00 B.I.G ( Biglietto Integrato a Giornaliero) is a daily ticket valid for unlimited metro, tram, bus and train travel within Rome.


Purchasing Bus and Metro tickets.

Newsstands, train stations, metro stations, kiosks with the ATAC logo and tabacchi shops sell tickets for the metro, trams and buses.

Large fines apply to travelers not holding or validating their ticket. Tickets once validated start from the time they have been stamped.



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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