Church of Santa Maria dell'Orto

The Church of Santa Maria dell’Orto, located in the heart of the Trastevere district in Rome, is a wonderful example of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Its history begins with a miracle that occurred around 1488, when a paralyzed farmer was healed after praying in front of an image of the Madonna painted near the entrance of his garden. This event led to the construction of a votive chapel and, subsequently, a larger church, supported by various professional guilds, which also contributed to the decoration and maintenance of the church. The current building was completed in 1567 and features a facade attributed to Vignola, although some scholars believe it may be the work of Martino Longhi the Elder. The interior, designed by Guidetto Guidetti, a student of Michelangelo, is in the shape of a Latin cross with three aisles that end in a transept.The church is richly decorated with frescoes and stuccoes. In the central nave, the vault is adorned with a fresco by Giacinto Calandrucci depicting the Assumption of Mary, surrounded by stuccoes by Camillo Rusconi. The side chapels are dedicated to various saints and contain works by artists such as Federico and Taddeo Zuccari, Corrado Giaquinto, and Giovanni Baglione.The right transept houses the chapel of the Most Holy Crucifix, with a wooden crucifix from the 17th century and frescoes by Nicola Trometta. In the sub-arch of the transept is a fresco by Giacinto Calandrucci depicting the Resurrection of Christ. On the left side of the transept, the chapel of San Francesco contains a statue of the saint and scenes from his life painted by Trometta. The main altar, the work of Giacomo Della Porta, is decorated with frescoes by Federico and Taddeo Zuccari depicting the life of Santa Maria. Santa Maria dell’Orto has a special connection with Japan, dating back to a Japanese diplomatic mission in 1585. During a storm on the Tiber, the Japanese delegates prayed to the Madonna dell’Orto and the storm subsided. This miraculous event is commemorated every year with a solemn mass, and since 2007, it has been remembered during the Titular Feast in October.The church is also famous for its involvement in cinema. It has been used as a set for numerous Italian films, including “Rome, Open City” by Roberto Rossellini and “La Romana” by Luigi Zampa. The majestic appearance and historical atmosphere of the church have made Santa Maria dell’Orto an ideal location for film shoots.