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Chiesa di Santa Maria del Divino Amore

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Divino Amore

Roma, IT

The church of Santa Maria del Divino Amore dates back to 1729 when a pre-existing medieval church was completely rebuilt to a design by Filippo Raguzzini. In 1802, Pius VII entrusted it to the Confraternity of Divine Love, which has its headquarters there and from which the street and the church take their names. Only the bell tower, which dates from the 12th century, remains of the medieval church. The interior of the church has a single nave with a barrel vault, decorated with frescoes in the 19th century.

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio

Venezia, IT

The church of Santa Maria del Giglio, also called Santa Maria Zobenigo, is believed to have been built in the 10th century. Its erection as a parish church is also uncertain and probably dates back to the 11th century. Its present appearance is the result of a restoration carried out in 1680. The 14th-century bell tower, isolated from the body of the church, was demolished in 1775 because it was dangerous. Its base is now used as a small shop. The façade of the church is the work of the architect Giuseppe Sardi (1624-1699) and is a Baroque masterpiece.

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne

Napoli, IT

The church of Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne acquired this title because, until the first quarter of the 17th century, two pine trees stood in the area. The church was designed by Arcangelo Guglielmelli (1648-1723). Entirely Baroque in style, both inside and out, the plan is rectangular with side chapels and a vestibule with a double flight of stairs to allow access to the sacred space above. The place of worship is annexed to the conventual complex of the same name and to a late Renaissance cloister, which today belongs to the city of Naples and is used as a school building. The church was closed after the 1980 earthquake and did not reopen until 2017 for sacred services.

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso

Alcamo, IT

The ancient church of Santa Maria del Soccorso was one of the oldest churches in Alcamo, having been founded in 1470, probably by a group of merchants from Genoa, who were members of the brotherhood of Maria Santissima del Soccorso. This church was part of a convent complex, restored in 1654 by the Filippini fathers.

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte

Roma, IT

Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte was built in the 1730's. The Confraternità dell'Orazione e Morte (Confraternity of Prayer and Death) aims to bury anonymous corpses and pray for their salvation. In 1572 the Brotherhood acquired an area between Palazzo Farnese and the banks of the Tiber and built a small church with burial rights between 1575 and 1576. In 1732, the architect Ferdinando Fuga began to build the church that exists today, an oratory and a large cemetery, partly underground and partly on the river bank.

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orto

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orto

Roma, IT

The church of Santa Maria dell'Orto was built in the 16th century following a miracle in 1488 when a sick peasant recovered after praying before an image of Mary at the entrance to a garden. As a result of this miracle, a small votive chapel was built, and later the present church. The construction of the church was completed in 1567 with the façade by the architect Vignole and the interior restructuring by Guidetto Guidetti.

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Umiltà

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Umiltà

Roma, IT

The church of Santa Maria dell'Umiltà was built in the first half of the 17th century and was commissioned by the daughter of Catherine de Medici, Francesca Baglioni, widow of Francesco Orsini. In 1703 the façade was rebuilt by Carlo Fontana. It was then rebuilt in 1859 by Andrea Busiri Vici, the main architect of the Vatican. After the unification of Italy, the church and convent were entrusted to the Congregation Propaganda Fide, which transformed the convent into a boarding school for theology students from North America. Today it is still the seat of the Pontifical North American College.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione

Roma, IT

Santa Maria della Consolazione was built between 1585 and 1600 by Martino Longhi the Elder in the Baroque style. It is the church of the Roman Capuchin monastery. The church is known for its frescoes and other works of art.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Luce

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Luce

Roma, IT

Santa Maria della Luce is said to have been founded by St Bonosa in the 4th century. The church was rebuilt in the 12th century, as was the bell tower, which is still preserved. Until 1595, when it became a parish, it was under the jurisdiction of the nearby basilica of San Crisogono. In 1728, a bull of Pope Benedict XIII installed the Friars Minor of the Order of St. Francis of Paola in the church. The current name of the church is due to a series of miracles that occurred in 1730, linked to an image painted on the outside wall of a nearby house, which was seen to shine with its own light. The image was then transferred to the church, which took its present name.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Neve al Colosseo

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Neve al Colosseo

Roma, IT

The church of Santa Maria della Neve was first mentioned in the 12th century. In 1607, the building was given to the University of Rigattieri, which rebuilt it at its own expense, in the Baroque style. After the French Revolution, the church was entrusted to the Confraternity of Santa Maria della Neve and its name was changed to its current name.

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Wikimedia Commons/Zairon

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The painted churches of the Troodos Mountains are exceptional examples of the artistic legacy of the Byzantine Empire in Cyprus. With their vibrant biblical scenes imprinted on walls and ceilings, each of the following 10 UNESCO World Heritage churches is a little treasure to visit.