A Tourist in Rome - Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte
Location: | 41.89448, 12.46973 Across Via Giulia from the Farnese Palace |
Metro: | None, perhaps take bus 116 from Barberini |
Time: | about 10 minutes |
Cost: | Free |
Hours: | Viewable at any time (from the outside) |
Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte (St. Mary of the Prayer of Death) was closed when I passed by it, but the outside of the church is interesting to look at. Skulls are on either side of the door, and above a second floor doorway, and the columns in the facade are quite ornate. The photos I took illustrate these features. I have read that inside there is a chamber decorated with human bones; a large number of skulls, candelabras constructed of bones, and a large cross adorned with skulls are among the room's adornments. This chamber is located through a door to the left of the main altar and is rarely open to visitors. Of course, I didn't see it since the church was closed when I visited. Sounds a little bit like the Cappucine Crypt if you'd like to see that sort of thing.
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