Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli

The Basilica of Santa Maria di Montesanto is, together with its twin church, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, the base of the so-called "trident", three streets leading from Piazza del Popolo: from the left, Via del Babuino, Via del Corso and Via di Ripetta. The origin of the churches dates back to the 17th century in what was the main entrance to Rome in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, via Via Flaminia. Pope Alexander VII commissioned the architect Carlo Rainaldi to design the monumental entrance to the Via del Corso. The project included two churches, but the different configurations of the two available locations meant that major changes had to be made to the plans.

According to a legend, the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo originated in the year 1099 on the site of emperor Nero’s tomb. Pope Paschal II, following an apparition of the Madonna who in a dream asked him to build a temple in his honour, built the first church, dedicated to Madonna of the people.

The Church of Jesus and Mary is a baroque church built between 1633 and 1675. The site and its buildings were purchased by the Discalced Augustinians in 1615, to build their new Roman seat and a training house for seminarians. A first construction period was led by Carlo Buzio and was completed at the end of 1635. A second part was carried out under Carlo Rainaldi, between 1671 and 1674. Between 1678 and 1690 the interior decoration and marble cladding was carried out.