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Category Archives: Churches in Italy

April 17, 2013 · 11:21 am

Rome’s Church of Santa Maria Maddelena near the Pantheon

Santa Maria Maddalena in Rome

Since 1403, there has been a church dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene at this site. Rome’s existing church of Santa Maria Maddalena was completed in 1698 by Guilio Carlo Quadri.

Church of the Maddalena, Rome. Facade by Giuseppe Sardi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Mary Magdalene is considered by the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches to be a saint. She was from the town of Magdala, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Her feast day is July 22nd.

Santa Maria Maddalena in Rome

The rococo concave facade was designed by Giuseppe Sardi and has two orders.

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The 16th century icon on the altar is “Our Lady, Health of the Sick”.

The cupola was frescoed by Etienne Parrocel and depict the “Most Holy Trinity in Glory” with Saints Mary Magdalene, Camillus and Philip Neri.

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Michelangelo Cerruti’s frescoes in the vault depict episodes in the life of St. Mary Magdalene.

The painting on the altar is “St. Francis de Paola Raises a Dead Child” by Biagio Puccini (1720).

On the facade of the church, the lower left niche has Saint Philip Neri and the right niche contains a statue of Saint Camillus de lellis. Both statues were done by Paolo Campana.

The second order has a window in the center with a red cross, this is the symbol of the Camillians. In the left niche, there is a statue of St. Mary Magdalene and in the right niche, there is a statue of Saint Martha. These statues were done by Joseph Canard.

Saint Camillus lived in the adjoining monastery and died on July 14, 1614. The reliquary on the altar’s left has the saint’s heart.

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The church has an extraordinary 18th century organ loft. The gilded carved wood depicts angela and allegorical figures in contrasting stucco. Charity is on the left, Hope sits on the balustrade, faith and Religion are on the upper level.

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Organ Loft of Santa Maria Maddalena in Rome

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Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

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Filed under Churches in Italy, Churches in Rome

Tagged as Camillians, Gianlorenzo Bernini, Giuseppe Sardi, Holy Trinity, Magdala, Mary Magdalene, Michelangelo Cerruti, Philip Neri, Rome, Santa Maria Maddalena, Santa Maria Maddalena Church in Rome near the Pantheon

June 29, 2012 · 11:29 am

Alghero’s Amazing Church of San Michele in Sardinia

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English: 16th century catalan city walls, Alghero, Sardinia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I love Alghero Sardinia. There are so many interesting churches.

The church of San Michele is a Baroque church in Alghero on the northwest coral coast of Sardinia located on Via Carlo Alberto in Old Town. The Jesuit church of San Michele was built in the second half of the 17th century by the Ligurian master builder Domenico Spotorno who also worked on the Baroque rebuilding of the Cagliari and Ales cathedrals.

Facade of San Michele

The project was drawn up by the architect Domenico Spotorno. He was a native of Savona. He also designed the Cathedral of Ales and the reconstruction of the the cathedral in Cagliari .

It is dedicated to the city’s patron saint. The majestic dome is covered with colorful tiles created and designed by Antonio Simon Mossa and Filippo Figari in the mid-twentieth century. It was lovingly restored in 2007.

The Annunciation

The dome of the Church of San Michele

In 1503, this church became the cathedral pro tempore of the Diocese of Alghero while the actual cathedral was being completed, which is the cathedral of Santa Maria.

The simple facade of the building is made of sandstone. Above the wooden door, wrapped in a frame of trachyte , two marble statues representing the Annunciation, and a little higher up, a relief that symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

The interior of the church has a nave with a barrel vault and it is divided by arches resting on Corinthian columns.

Altar of San Michele

Archangel Michael has a significant presence in the church. His painting dominates the The Baroque high altar with an elaborate i8th century Spanish crucifix. His large wooden statue depicts him defeating a chained Satan under his feet. You can also find Michael in the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art a few blocks away.

Michael the Archangel

One of the chapels is dedicated to Our “Lady of the Arrow” with a large painting from 1652 hanging directly over a small elaborate niche with the statue of the Virgin of Valverde. The Shrine of Our Lady of Valverde is a few miles from the city and is the site of religious pilgrimages with momumental altarpieces by Genoese artists.

Virgin of Valverde

There are many lovely chapels in the church. The chapel in the left arm of the transept is dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola. In the right arm of the transept there is a chapel, dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, one of the his early companions. There is a chapel with a painting that represents a “vision” of St. Teresa of Avila. One of the chapels on the left is dedicated to Immaculate Mary with scenes from the life of Madonna.