The Church of San Nicola di Bari in Ariccia is the current seat of the Teatro Bernini. Until 1666 it was located in the Piazza di Corte, but it was moved to create space for the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta Church. The Collegio di San Nicola di Bari nextdoor Has been transformed into the city’s Town Hall.
A brief history of the church of San Nicola di Bari in Ariccia
When Bernini was commissioned to build the Santa Maria Assunta Church, the San Nicola di Bari Church had to make way. It was completely taken apart, to be reassembled in its present location.
This is quite ironic, since, in order to build the first San Nicola di Bari Church, an early-Christian church dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta had had to be torn down.
The present church is smaller than the original one. The two bell towers flanking the church survived, however, although only one of them still has bells.
Town Hall (ex-Collegio di San Nicola)
From 1655, till the mid 19th century, the sky-blue former Collegio di San Nicola was the seat of the Congregation of the Christian Doctrine Fathers. In the 1980s, it was transformed into the town hall (municipio) of Ariccia. The statue in the Piazza San Nicola adorns the Fountain of the Bella Flora.
Roman ruins
The ruins in the Piazza San Nicola probably used to be part of a Temple dedicated to Juno.
Useful information
Address: Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 81D – Ariccia. Phone: (+39) 333 1329480. Opening times and ticket price depend on the event.