Trinita dei Monti, Rome
Trinita dei Monti in Rome (Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio) is a small temple in the center of the city. It is often depicted on various leaflets because of the proximity of the famous Spanish Steps. This church is one of the five French-speaking Catholic churches in Rome.
History of the church
Construction of the church and the monastery adjacent to it began in 1502 by order of the King of France Charles VIII. They were to become the abode of the nascent Minim Order under the leadership of St. Francis of Paola. The construction of the church was completed in 1519, the monastery – in 1550. Construction work continued until the end of the 16th century. By 1584, the façade was expanded and 2 symmetrical belltowers were completed. Architects Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Maderna worked on them. A year later, the church was consecrated by Pope Sixtus V. And in 1594, the last works on the decoration of the sanctuary were finally completed. In 1789, an antique Roman copy of an ancient Egyptian obelisk was installed in front of the church.
At the time of Napoleon, the church was destroyed, but by 1816 it was restored. In 1828, after the minimization of the Order, the educational institution Istituto Sacro Cuore was organized on the basis of the church, and in 1975 the guest house for the pilgrims San Giuseppe. In July 2016, management was entrusted to the Catholic society Emmanuele.
Architecture and interior
Today Trinita dei Monti is a complex consisting of a monastery, a church, a guest house, and Italian and French children's schools.
The early part of the church is made in the Gothic style, with many arched vaulted ceilings. It is supplemented by the later bell towers, which form the modern look of the temple. The church has a single nave, apse and altar. Seven chapels are located on both sides of the nave. They create the genuine feeling of delight during the church visits. After all, the chapels are a real triumph of frescoes, combining different eras and styles.
- Chapels in the right aisle have beautiful stucco, as well as pictures of little-known authors. Among all, we can single out the first one in which there is a cycle of frescoes Storie di san Giovanni Battista by Giovanni Battista Naldini.
- The third chapel, decorated with frescoes by famous artists Daniele da Volterra, Pellegrino Tibaldi and Marco dal Pino are the highlight. The works of the first are the most interesting. Assunta, Presentazione della Vergine, Annunciazione, Presentazione di Gesù al Tempio are the most interesting among them.
- Daniele da Volterra also participated in the creation of some chapel frescoes on the left side of the nave. Deposizione is the most famous of his work.
- Perino del Vaga and Federico Zuccaro were also involved in creating of the cycles of the frescoes that are in the chapels on the left.
How to get there
Trinita dei Monti in Rome is located on the left bank of the Tiber River, on Piazza della Trinità dei Monti, 3. Not far from it there are the Magistral Palace and the Villa Medici. Next to the temple there is the Trinita 'dei Monti bus stop, as well as the Spagna metro station, MEA line.
Opening hours:
- Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00,
- on Friday from 12:00 to 21:00,
- on Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00,
- on monday the church is closed.
Admission: you can find out the information about visits and the cost of excursions by calling the phone number (+39) 06 679 4179.
