Santi Bartolomeo ed Alessandro dei Bergamaschi

where: Piazza Colonna

getting there: #40 bus #84 bus

open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00-12:00 and 17:00-19:00/Sunday 17:00-19:00

This little Baroque church in Piazza Colonna was first built in the 16th century as a chapel for the first hospital built in Rome dedicated to the mentally ill.

When the lunatic asylum was later moved to Trastevere a small church was built around the chapel for the expats of Bergamo.

In 1735 there was a major refurbishment of the church and in the 19th century the interior was decorated with gilded stucco. The ceiling fresco of Our Lady of Piety with Saints Bartholomew, Alexander and Agnes by Emilio Restosi is from this time.

The main altar is strikingly embellished with gilded putti and golden rays which surround the icon of Santa Maria della Pietà. Nearby is a wooden sculpture of Christ at the Column of Flagellation from 1569 decorated by Semoneta.

In the second chapel on the right is an altarpiece by Giovanni Antonio Valtellina from circa 1500

of five paintings by Marco Benefial and other 18th century artists.

In the second chapel on the left is an altarpiece of the Martyrdom of Saint John from 1732 by Aureliano Milani.

In the first chapel is the altarpiece by Pietro Galgardi, his first sold artwork.