The church of San Gregorio della Divina Pietà in Rome is also known under the name San Gregorio a Quattro Capi. It is located almost directly across the road from the Ponte Fabricio, which gives access to the Isola Tiberina. The church is not open to the public.
A brief history of the church of San Gregorio della Divina Pietà
The earliest documents mentioning the church date back to the 15th century. The Quattro Capi (“Four Heads”) of the name refers to two sculptures of the two-headed God Janus at the beginning of the Ponte Fabricio. It was probably constructed on top of an already existing oratorium, which had probably in turn been built on the birthplace of San Gregorio Magno (540-604), or the spot where the saint grew up.
In 1727, the church came to be run by the Congregazione della Divina Pietà. This congregation occupied itself with giving aid to once wealthy families that had fallen on hardship.
Around this time, the church got its current architecture. The architect was Filippo Barigioni, a local architect who did almost all of his work in and around Rome. His best known works include the Fountain in Piazza della Rotonda and the Aqueduct of Nepi.
Located at the edge of what used to be the Jewish ghetto, for a long time (until the mid-19th century) San Gregorio della Divina Pietà was one of the churches where Jews were forced to listen to sermons. The other ones were the nearby churches of Sant’Angelo in Pescheria and Santa Maria del Carmine.
The interior was restored in 1858.
What to see
Exterior
The oval with the “Crucifixion” fresco decorating the facade was the work of the French painter Etienne Parrocel. It was probably added during Barigioni’s restoration.
Below the fresco is a plaque quoting a passage from the Old Testament “Book of Isaiah”, reprimanding the Jews.
On the side of the church, there are two slots for depositing alms. The first one is for the church itself, the second one for “poor and needy families”.
Interior
The altarpiece, “Madonna of Divine Providence” by Gilles Hallet, dates back to the 17th century.