Church of Santa Maria della Scala

The Church of Santa Maria della Scala is a wonderful example of Baroque architecture located in the Trastevere district in Rome. Its construction, started in 1593 and completed in 1610, was intended to house the icon of the Madonna della Scala, considered miraculous. The facade, made of travertine and with pilasters connected by volutes, was completed in 1624. The interior of the church is in the shape of a Latin cross with a single nave, flanked by three chapels on each side. The main altar, designed by Carlo Rainaldi, is surmounted by a canopy in the form of a small temple, supported by sixteen Corinthian columns in alabaster and gilded bronze. The main altarpiece is a Madonna del Carmine by Giuseppe Peroni, dated 1737. Among the works of art preserved in the church, the “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” by Gerard van Honthorst in the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist stands out, as well as the “Death of the Virgin” by Carlo Saraceni in the Chapel of the Assumption, which replaced a controversial work by Caravaggio. The Chapel of Santa Teresa of Avila, with works by Francesco Mancini and sculptures by Michel-Ange Slodtz and Filippo Valle, is another point of great interest. Also of particular importance is the convent’s apothecary, famous for having been the pharmacy of the papal court in the 17th century. It still preserves the original furnishings and tools of the time, offering a fascinating glimpse into historical medicine. During the Roman Republic of 1849, the church was used as a hospital and Andrea Aguyar, a patriot follower of Garibaldi, died there. This episode highlights the historical role of the church not only as a place of worship but also as an integral part of the community and history of Rome.