Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Santa Maria del Pianto


where: Via Santa Maria del Pianto and Piazza della Cinque Scole
getting there: 5 minute walk from Largo di Torre Argentina
open: possibly weekdays from 12:00-13:00
information: entry to the church is via a door in the Piazza della Cinque Scole or around the corner in Via Santa Maria del Pianto 

Santa Maria del Pianto is a Baroque church that was commissioned in 1608 in the Regola area.
When the church build ran into financial difficulties the facade of the church was left unfinished and the decorations planned for the interior unrealised.
The entry to the church is via an ordinary green painted door with the name of the church lettered in white and these days the building is surrounded by shops and restaurants. 

The church was built to hold a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary which had shed tears (pianto) as a young man was being assassinated nearby.
The 15th century icon of the Virgin was taken from above a nearby doorway in the street and placed at the main altar in an alabaster altarpiece with two stucco putto above.
Inside the entrance is a processional banner painted by Lazzaro Baldi depicting the Madonna and Child.
Two frescoes by Agostino Ciampelli are either side of the main altar underneath the choir balcony.

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