Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini

The Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, also known as the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata on Via Veneto, is a fascinating example of Baroque architecture located in the heart of Rome, on Via Veneto. Built between 1626 and 1631 according to the design of Michele da Bergamo, the church was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII in honor of his brother Antonio Barberini, a member of the Capuchin order. The church has a simple yet elegant architectural structure, with a single nave and ten side chapels, five on each side, each housing important works of art and relics. Among the most significant works is “Archangel Michael defeating Lucifer” by Guido Reni, one of the most famous representations of the archangel. Other notable works include “The Nativity” by Giovanni Lanfranco and “Saint Francis receiving the stigmata” by Domenichino. On the ceiling, frescoed in 1796 by Liborio Coccetti, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is depicted. Of particular interest is the marble tomb of the Polish prince Alexander Sobieski, son of King John Sobieski, the victor over the Turks in Vienna. Created by Camillo Rusconi, the presence of this tomb was crucial in saving the church from demolition during urban restructuring of the area. The main attraction of the church is the crypt-ossuary, famous for its macabre decorations made with the bones of around 4,000 Capuchin friars, collected between 1528 and 1870. The crypt consists of five small chapels, each decorated with a particular type of bone or a theme related to death. The inscription at the entrance of the crypt, “What you are, we were; what we are, you will be,” offers a powerful memento mori, reminding visitors of the transience of life. In addition to its religious function, the church also serves as a museum preserving works of art and sacred objects related to the Capuchin order. Among the works displayed in the sacristy, a painting of “Saint Francis in meditation” stands out, recently attributed to Caravaggio. Originally located in a rural area facing a square, the church also included a bell tower and a large convent, which were demolished after the Unification of Italy for the construction of Via Veneto and the new Ministry of Corporations in the 1920s. The convent was promptly rebuilt in 1925, maintaining its historical connection with the church.