Vicolo Della Pace

Santa Maria della Pace is one of Rome's most important churches, located in the Ponte district just a few steps west of Piazza Navona. The building is best known for its architectural uniqueness, which makes it a masterpiece of Roman urban design. The history of the site goes back to the 15th century, when Pope Sixtus IV ordered a new church to be built to seal the peace with Milan and Naples. Originally, a smaller church belonging to the water carriers stood on this spot. Over the centuries the building was remodeled several times, and in the 17th century the Baroque architect Pietro da Cortona created its distinctive facade. This design goes back to a vow made by Pope Alexander VII, who was prompted by the threat of the plague and of French troops to renovate and redesign the church.

The church's architecture combines a nave with a central octagon topped by a dome modeled on the Pantheon. The facade breaks away from the traditional flat wall surface and presents itself as an independent, three-dimensional structure. On the lower level, a portico with Tuscan columns forms a convex curve, which is answered on the upper level by a concave section with Ionic columns and pilasters. This dynamic composition draws the eye to the center and gives the ensemble a monumental presence despite its compact size. Da Cortona also designed the adjoining square, adapting or demolishing surrounding houses to create a unified, theater-like setting in which the church appears like a stage.

Inside, you'll find a wealth of Renaissance and Baroque art treasures. The dome is decorated with a fresco by Baldassare Peruzzi depicting the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, stylistically related to the works of Raphael. Especially worth seeing is the Chigi Chapel, where Raphael himself painted the Sibyls above the arch; the features of one of the figures are said to be those of a famous courtesan. Other chapels house works by artists such as Peruzzi, Rosso Fiorentino, and Vincenzo de' Rossi, who adorn the rooms with marble decorations and frescoes. The high altar is by Carlo Maderno and houses a painting of the Madonna that is considered miraculous.

Another highlight is the famous cloister, the first documented work by Donato Bramante in Rome. It was built between 1500 and 1504 for Cardinal Oliviero Carafa and impresses with its unorthodox two-story structure. While the lower level takes up the Roman Tabularium motif with Ionic pilasters, the upper level alternates columns and piers placed above the apexes of the arcades below. This harmonious, humanist order, which drew criticism at the time, is now regarded as classical. Today the cloister and the adjoining monastery rooms serve as exhibition space for historical art shows, which further adds to the cultural appeal of the site for visitors.