Santa Maria del Suffragio

Santa Maria del Suffragio is a 17th century church in central Rome on the via Guilia, in the rione Ponte.

In 1592, the "Confraternita del Suffragio" (Fraternity of those who succor the suffering) was a purgatorial society established adjacent to the church of Saint Biagio della Pagnotta; their goal were to pray for the spirits of the dead. Two years later, the group received a charter of approval from Pope Clement VIII. In 1620, it was elevated to ‘’Arciconfraternita’’ by Pope Paul V.

Having outgrown their premises, the group acquired in 1607, part of an unfinished site that originally had been destined to be the Bramante-designed Palace of the Courts. In 1662, the architect Carlo Rainaldi designed the church, which was completed by 1669, with interior decorations continuing till 1685.

The interior has frescoes by Cesare Mariani ("Coronation of the Virgin "). The third chapel on the right has as "Birth of Mary" and "Adoration of the Magi" by Giuseppe Chiari. The third chapel on the left once had the "passion of Christ" frescoed on the walls by Lanfranco

For other churches and confraternity in Rome dedicated to the dead; see Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte.

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* [http://www.romecity.it/Altrechiesediroma.htm Romecity entry]