SANTA MARIA DELL’ORTO

Santa Maria dell’Orto traces its origins to a miraculous cure attributed to an image of the Virgin.

It was first lit a votive candle, a chapel was built later, then the church, which is called the Garden (=orto), because in 1400 the area was planted with gardens, what’s more this was the area where there were the gardens of Caesar.

In 1492 Pope Alexander VI Borgia recognized the Confraternity who provided the funds for the construction of the first church. Then in 1588 Pope Sixtus V raised the Confraternity to Archconfraternity and to the interior of the church was further enhanced thanks to the intervention of famous painters as Zuccari brothers and Giovanni Baglione.

The Archconfraternity, along the time, joined various guilds, named universities and each wanted to make their mark, the Ortolani and Fruttaroli (=greengrocers and fruiterers), with decorations of fruits and vegetables,  but also Pollaroli (=poulerers),  left a beautiful wooden turkey. Tradition says that the universities were twelve: Merchants, Brokers, Mills Masters, Delicatessen Shopkeepers, Pasta Makers, Poulterers, Cobblers, Vine-dressers, Coopers and  their workers.
From 1 January 2008 the Japanese Catholic Community of Rome has appointed Santa Maria dell’Orto as its reference point.

The design of the Church, completed in 1566, is due to Vignola (1507 - 1573) and Guidetto Guidetti (? - 1564), notable pupil of Michelangelo. The façade was designed by Vignola and  completed by Francesco Capriani da Volterra (1535 - 1594).

The interior has three naves.

For a detailed tour of the church can use the clickable map below.

The valuable floor was designed by Gabriel Valvassori (1683 - 1761). Unfortunately the presence of banks makes it possible to appreciate only in part. In any case you can see the plates of the universities.

 

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