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S. Maria della Consolazione

Till 1550 at the foot of Tarpea cliff the sentenced to death were executed.
In 1385 a roman noble, Giordanello degli Alberini, sentenced to death, gave two gold fiorins in order that an image of the Virgin would be placed there to give comfort (consolazione) to sentenced people.    

The early Consolazione church was built just there, later in 1585 Martino Longhi il Vecchio (the elder) rebuilt the lower part of the church and in 1830 Pasquale Belli finished the work.

Nowadays the square in front of the church is an open space parking area and the same church looks like neglected.

Never trust the appearance! As soon as you get in the church, the right chapel (cappella Mattei), is the Taddeo Zuccari masterpiece, the impressive expressive fresco (1556), is known as le storie della Passione (the Passion of Christ history).      

The high altar is a work of Martino Longhi.

Beside the high altar you find a medieval fresco repainted by Antoniozzo Romano in 1500.

The dome is an original and  refined work.

The chapel on the left of the high altar shows a very suggestive little glass window.

Before getting out in the last chapel you can see a fine marble work by Raffaello da Montelupo (1530).

Photo 1: The facade

Photo 2, 3: Statues on the Church balustrade

Photo 4: Notice to the visitors

Photo 5: Nave

Photo 6: Mattei chapel by Taddeo Zuccari 

Photo 7, 8, 9 10, 11, 12, 13, 14: Mattei chapel, Storie della Passione, fresco by Taddeo Zuccari

Photo 15: The dome

Photo 16, 17: The chapel on the left of he high altar

Photo 18: The Virgin Ikon ( copy, the original one was stolen some years ago)

Photo 19: Dedication to Pope Sisto V

Photo 20: Organ

Photo 21: The marble work by Raffaello da Montelupo