Rome - New Church / Santa Maria in Vallicella

(Local Name: Chiesa Nuova) The church of Santa Maria in Vallicella was begun in 1575 on the initiative of St Philip Neri, founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. It was built on the site of an earlier (12th century) church dedicated to St John, and is still popularly known as the "New Church". A number of different donors and architects were involved in its construction. The exterior of the church is of imposing effect with its massive facade (by Fausto Rughesi) and central dome rearing high above the close-packed houses in the older part of the city. The sumptuously decorated interior of this high cruciform three-aisled basilica is notable particularly for frescoes by Pietro da Cortona and paintings on the high altar (early works by Rubens). Left of the choir is the Chapel of San Filippo Neri, containing his tomb of marble and mother-of-pearl.