Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli
Church of Holy Mary in Monserrato of the Spaniards | ||
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Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli (in Italian) Santa María de Montserrat de los Españoles (in Spanish) S. Mariae Hispanorum in Monte Serrato (in Latin) | ||
Style Baroque | | |
Completed | 1598 | |
Specifications | ||
Length | 40 metres (130 ft) | |
Width | 14 metres (46 ft) |
The Spanish National Church of Santiago and Montserrat, known as Church of Holy Mary in Monserrat of the Spaniards (
It was established as titular church in 2003. The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Mariae Hispanorum in Monte Serrato is José Cobo Cano.[1]
History
San Giacomo degli Spagnoli was erected in 1450 on the site of an earlier church. By 1506 it was the location of two hospices for Spanish pilgrims and the national church of the Crown of Castile in Rome.[2]
Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli was founded in 1506 when the Brotherhood of the Virgin of Montserrat in Catalonia built a hospice for Spanish pilgrims.[3] It served as the national church and hospital for the Aragonese community in Rome.
When Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli was completed in the 17th century, the focus of the community shifted to that church. San Giacomo degli Spagnoli was in poor repair, and many of the furnishings and artworks were transferred to Santa Maria in Monserrato, which is now the Spanish national church. San Giacomo degli Spagnoli was later deconsecrated and the building sold to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.[4]
Architecture
The church was built in 1518 according to designs by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Construction was interrupted due to lack of funds, but the work proceeded over centuries under the direction, among others, of Bernardino Valperga and Francesco da Volterra. The façade by da Volterra being erected 1582–1593, the altar consecrated in 1594, and the roof finished in 1598. The apse was completed only in 1675, when a new main altar was consecrated. The external sculptural group (1673-1675) was executed by Giovanni Battista Contini. A complete renovation took place from 1818 to 1822; another restoration occurred in 1929.[5]
Interior
The altarpiece over the main altar is The Crucifixion (1564-1565), by Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta. Funded by Prince Philip of Spain it was moved from San Giacomo degli Spagnoli.[6]
The three chapels on the right side were built between 1582 and 1588; those on the left between 1592 and 1594. The vault of the nave was erected between 1596 and 1598. That of the apse, between 1673 and 1675, under the direction of the Roman architect Giovanni Battista Contini. In the niches above the lateral doors are statues of two Aragonese saints (1816),
Chapel of San Diego de Alcalá
The first chapel on the right, dedicated to
Chapel of the Annunciation
The second chapel on the right contains the burial plaque of the patron Gabriel Ferrer (died 1607), as well as his heraldic shield on the ceiling. The fresco of the Dormition of the Virgin (1683) is by Francesco Nappi,[5] as is the Annunciation altarpiece. The sides have frescoes of the Birth of Mary and Assumption of Mary to Heaven. Two Spanish Ambassadors are buried here: Julián de Villalba (died 1843) and Salvador de Zea Bermúdez (died 1852). The four lunettes have angels with symbols alluding to the Virgin, and one lunette with Meeting of Mary and Elisabeth. Above the arches and pilasters are Marian symbols and the cupola has the image of St. Cecilia; the tympanum has a God the Father.
Chapel of the Virgen del Pilar
The third chapel on the right is dedicated to the Virgen del Pilar. The rich polychrome marble decoration completed in the 18th century by Antonio Francés and Miguel de Cetina, based on designs by a canon from Barcelona, Francisco Gómez García, (died 1778). The altarpiece depicting Our Lady of the Pillar with St James and St Vincent Ferrer was painted by Francisco Preciado de la Vega. At the right, an Assumption of Mary (1551) was painted by Francesco di Città di Castello while a Triumph of the Immaculate Conception (1663) on the left, was painted by Louis Cousin.
Chapel of Santa Ana
In the first chapel to the left, the statues of Anne, Virgin, and Jesus was sculpted in 1544 by
Chapel of Santa María de Montserrat
The second chapel on the left is dedicated to the
Chapel of Santiago el Mayor
The third chapel on the left is dedicated to
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Ceiling
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Main altar
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Chapel of Our Lady of Monserrat
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Funeral monument of Bishop Paradinas
Burials
- Fernando de Córdoba
- Pope Alexander VI
- Alfonso XIII of Spain (remains transferred to the El Escorialin 1980)
- Pope Callixtus III
Cardinal-priests of Holy Mary in Monserrato of the Spaniards since 2003
- Carlos Amigo Vallejo (21 October 2003 – 27 April 2022†)
- José Cobo Cano (30 September 2023 – present)
References
- ^ Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations (Consistory of October 21, 2003), Assignment of the Titles or The Deaconries to the New Cardinals
- ^ "Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore/San Giacomo degli Spagnoli", Collegamento Nazionale Santuari
- ^ "Chiesa di Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli", Religiana
- ^ "Chiesa Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore a Piazza Navona", Turismo Roma, Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion Department
- ^ a b c "Church of Santa Maria in Monserrato of the Spaniards", Turismo Roma, Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion Department
- ISBN 9781501513480
- ^ a b "Chiesa di Santiago e di Santa Maria di Monserrato degli Spagnoli", Opra Pia, Establicimientos Espanõles en Italia
- ISBN 9789004222083
External links