What is the crypt-ossuary at Church of St. Mary Immaculate known for?

The crypt-ossuary is one of the church's most distinctive features, displaying the remains of over 4,000 Capuchin friars arranged artistically throughout five underground spaces. This unique burial practice creates a haunting and memorable experience that sets this Roman church apart from other religious monuments.

Who commissioned the Church of St. Mary Immaculate and when was it built?

Pope Urban VIII commissioned the church between 1626 and 1631 in honor of the brother of Antonio Barberini, who was a member of the Capuchin order. The building was designed by architect Antonio Casoni and stands as a monumental structure showcasing 17th-century religious architecture in Rome.

What famous artworks can I see at the Church of St. Mary Immaculate?

The church houses masterpieces by renowned Renaissance artists including Guido Reni's 'St. Michael the Archangel Chasing Lucifer' (1635), Pietro da Cortona's 'Ananias Baptizing St. Paul' (1631), and works by Giovanni Lanfranco, Domenichino, and Mario Balassi. The church vault features a stunning neoclassical fresco by Liborio Coccetti depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, painted in 1796.

Which notable religious figures are buried at this church?

The church contains the remains of Friar St. Felix of Cantalice and St. Crispin of Viterbo, as well as Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski, the son of King John III of Poland, who was a Capuchin friar living in the adjoining convent and died there in 1714. These burials reflect the church's importance as a significant site within the Capuchin religious community.

What is the layout and architectural design of the Church of St. Mary Immaculate?

The church features a small nave with ten side chapels—five on each side—where important relics and works of art are preserved throughout the building. This intimate layout, combined with the dramatic underground crypt-ossuary, creates a unique architectural experience that emphasizes both artistic beauty and the Capuchin order's spiritual traditions.

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Religious places 📍 Roma, Italy 158 views

Church of St. Mary Immaculate

Photo · Teresa F.

Church of St. Mary Immaculate — Roma, Italy.

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Roma

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Religious places

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About Church of St. Mary Immaculate

Church of St. Mary Immaculate - Roma | Secret World Trip Planner

he church was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII in honor of the brother of Antono Barberini, who belonged to the Capuchin order and built on a design by Antonio Casoni in the years between 1626 and 1631, a monumental structure in Rome particularly interesting for the crypt-ossuary where more than 4,000 Capuchin friars are displayed as artistic objects decorating all five spaces present. The architectural structure of the building consists of a small nave with ten side chapels (five on each side), in which important relics and works of art are preserved. Friar St. Felix of Cantalice, St. Crispin of Viterbo and the son of King John III of Poland Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski, who was a Capuchin in the adjoining convent and died there in 1714, rest there. Among te works preserved are noted: St. Michael the Archangel Chasing Lucifer (1635), oil on canvas, by Guido Reni, now in the Capuchin Museum attached to the convent; Ananias baptizing St. Paul restoring his sight (1631), oil on canvas, by Pietro da Cortona; Nativity of Jesus by Giovanni Lanfranco; Saint Francis of Assisi receives the stigmata, by Domenichino; Transfiguration by Mario Balassi. The vault was frescoed in 1796 by neoclassical painter Liborio Coccetti, with the theme of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.