Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina

The Church of Santa Maria in Transpontina is a Baroque masterpiece located along via della Conciliazione, in the Borgo district of Rome. Its history begins in the 16th century, when it was built to replace an older church demolished by Pius IV because it obstructed the trajectories of the bombardments from Castel Sant’Angelo. For the same reason, the new church has a flattened dome, without a drum. The Bolognese architect Ottaviano Mascherino was commissioned to design the new structure, which is now aligned with the old Borgo Nuovo street, despite the urban changes of the 20th century that led to the construction of via della Conciliazione. The church’s facade, simple yet imposing, welcomes the faithful with a sense of solemnity. The interior features a Latin cross plan, with a single nave flanked by side chapels and a slightly projecting transept. The crossing is covered by a dome, while the deep choir ends with a semicircular apse. The Baroque high altar, designed by Carlo Fontana in 1674, houses a medieval icon that adds a touch of history and spirituality to the environment.The side chapels are rich in works of art, including the “Santa Teresa” by Antonio Gherardi. Among other artists who have contributed to the decoration of the church are Giulio Cesare Procaccini, whose altarpiece once located in the church is now in New York. The Oratory of Christian Doctrine, next to the church, is a splendid architecture by Nicola Michetti from 1715, further enriching the religious complex.An interesting aspect of the church is the presence of three pipe organs. In the transept, on the sides of the choir, there are two instruments built in 1668 by Giuseppe Testa, although both are no longer functional. In the apse, a Mascioni organ opus 879, built in 1966, is electrically operated and has 40 stops on two manuals and pedal.