The Church of Santa Maria dei Monti in Rome is also known as the Madonna dei Monti and as Santa Maria ai Monti. The latter is the official name, while Madonna dei Monti is the name used by Romans themselves. The building to the left of the facade is embellished with a fascist plaque dedicated to soldiers who killed during World War I.
Santa Maria ai Monti Church Rome
Address, opening hours and admission
Address: Via della Madonna dei Monti, 41 – Rome (tel. +39 06 485531). Opening hours: 7.00-12.00 and 16.30-19.30. Admission: Free. (Note: The church cannot be visited while mass is being celebrated.)
History and description
The Madonna dei Monti church was built in 1580, after a miraculously preserved picture of the Madonna had been found in the ruins of the convent that used to stand in the same spot.
One day, a blind woman praying in front of the painting got her sight back and after that so much money was donated that within one year it was possible to start construction of the new church.
It was Pope Gregory VIII who commissioned Giacomo della Porta to build the church, which was later finished by Carlo Lombardi and Flaminio Ponzi.
The design of the facade, which wa restored in 1991, is based on that of the Chiesa del Gesù.
Art in the Church of Madonna dei Monti
The aforementioned 15th century painting depicting the Madonna with Child and the Saints Lawrence and Stephen is above the High Altar now.
There are 4 frescoes depicting the Evangelists painted on the Dome. The artist was Cristoforo Casolani.
World War I Monument next door
The central part of the building to the left of the main facade is taken up by a plaque with an inscription and some reliefs. This monument is dedicated to the fallen soldiers from the Monti district. The bottom part is taken up by the symbols of the district. The tops of these “mountains” are less rounded than usual to make them look like bullets. The top of the monument shows a soldier and below that three eagles and three fasce, symbolizing fascism, can be seen.