Santa Maria in Montesanto, Rome Church

Address: Piazza del Popolo, 00186 Rome, Italy

Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00am-12:30pm, 4:00pm-7:00pm; Sun services vary

Admission: Free (donations accepted)

Santa Maria in Montesanto is one of the pair of churches that flank Piazza del Popolo in Rome and is commonly known as one of the plaza’s “twin” churches. It dates to the 17th century and is notable for its plan and role in the urban composition of the piazza.

The church’s exterior completes the visual symmetry of Piazza del Popolo and marks the entrance to Via del Corso. Inside, the plan is distinct from its twin and the decorative scheme reflects Baroque-era interventions; the church is also linked with artistic and cultural events in Rome.

Constructed in the 17th century as part of the major Baroque remodelling of Piazza del Popolo, the church and its twin were built to create a formal urban gateway and to house parish functions for the area. Subsequent restorations have preserved the churches’ facades and interiors.

Santa Maria in Montesanto stands at Piazza del Popolo in northern central Rome, forming the left-hand church of the twin pair that frame the square and the start of Via del Corso.

• Twin churches: Forms one of the twin churches at Piazza del Popolo; it is often visited together with the nearby church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

What to See#

• Interior and dome: Interior plan and chapels forming one half of the famous “twin” churches facing Piazza del Popolo; this church has an elliptical nave and a slightly smaller dome than its twin.
• Façade and urban setting: Exterior façade that forms part of the symmetrical pair flanking the entrance to Via del Corso at Piazza del Popolo.

From Rome Termini: take tram 2 or bus 160 to Piazza del Popolo, then a short walk northeast toward the twin churches. From the Spanish Steps, it’s a 10-12 minute walk along Via del Babuino. The church sits on the edge of the piazza, so it’s hard to miss.

• Visit just before sunset to see the long shadows in Piazza del Popolo and the church's cupola glow - the light does justice to the interior's red marble and gilt.
• Enter from the smaller side door on Via di Ripetta to avoid the momentarily crowded main steps during morning mass.
• Look for the inscription above the main altar and the faded votive plaques on the inside walls; they tell 19th-century prayer rituals most tourists miss.