SANT'ANDREA AL QUIRINALE

S. Andrea al Quirinale is the seat of the seminar of the Society of Jesus and together with the Church of Jesus and St. Ignatius is one of the most important Roman churches of the Jesuits. It is located on Via del Quirinale midway between S. Carlino and Piazza del Quirinale.

It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who began construction in 1658 on behalf of Cardinal Camillo Pamphili, nephew of Pope Innocent X. The semi-circular portico suggests that Bernini was influenced by Pietro da Cortona who in 1656 had built Santa Maria della Pace. The Bernini 's church went to replace an earlier, more dedicated to St. Andrea, which was erected by the Jesuit Francis Borgia. About the Borgia, for at least two centuries, they played an important role in the Catholic church, from Pope Callistus III, followed by Pope Alessandro VI ending with Gasparo Borgia, who without the hostility of the "French party" would become the third Borgia Pope. In any case, Cardinal Gasparo Borgia, Grand Inquisitor, went down in history for refusing to sign the condemnation of Galileo. The present church is elliptical with the major axis of 20 meters, perpendicular to those who enter, while the minor axis is 14 meters.

The interior is a riot of color due to the multi-colored marbles, the stuccoes, the gilt bronzes and the lapislazuli. Along the ellipse are four chapels.
At the first right when you enter depicts the death of St. Francis Xavier and is a masterpiece of Baciccia, the paintings are from 1705.
The second chapel, Deposition, Flagellation and Road to Calvary is by Giacinto Brandi and dates back to 1682.

The high altar was designed by Bernini, the altarpiece was painted it in 1668 by Borgognone, while the angels and cherubs, that are the frame of the altar piece, were made by Hercules Antonio Raggi.
The first chapel on the left shows the Madonna and Child with Saints by Louis Mozzanti, a disciple of Baciccia, the painting is back to 1710.
In the second chapel on the left the Madonna and Child with St. Stanislaus Kostka is by Carlo Maratta, painted in 1687.