Santa Maria in Vallicella

Welcome to the magnificent Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, almost universally referred to by Romans simply as the 'Chiesa Nuova,' or the New Church. Standing proudly on the busy Corso Vittorio Emanuele, this massive…

Before we enter the breathtaking interior, take a moment to stand in the small piazza outside and admire the imposing facade of Santa Maria in Vallicella. Designed primarily by the architect Fausto Rughesi and completed in…

Crossing the threshold into the nave of Santa Maria in Vallicella, the sensory impact is immediate and overwhelming. The vast, cavernous central space is entirely unobstructed by columns, a specific design choice demanded by the…

We have now arrived at the sanctuary, the most sacred and visually arresting area of the Chiesa Nuova. The high altar before you houses what are arguably the most important and innovative paintings in all of Rome: three massive,…

Tear your eyes away from the magnificent Rubens altarpieces for a moment and look straight up into the soaring void above the main altar. You are gazing into the massive, light-filled dome of the Chiesa Nuova. …

To the left of the main sanctuary, located in the transept, lies the deeply venerated spiritual heart of the entire complex: the Chapel of Saint Philip Neri. This is the final resting place of the beloved Apostle of Rome, the man…

To fully appreciate the legacy of Saint Philip Neri and the Oratorians, we must briefly step outside the main church and look at the magnificent building attached directly to its left. This is the Oratorio dei Filippini, or the…

As you stand back out on the bustling Corso Vittorio Emanuele, taking in the combined facades of the Chiesa Nuova and Borromini’s Oratory, the sheer scale of the Oratorian achievement becomes clear. What began as the humble…