Rome - Oratorio dei Filippini

Immediately to the left of the Chiesa Nuovo is the Oratory, a residential house of prayer of the Congregation of Oratorians founded by St Philip Neri. The house was built for the Oratorians - an order which was very popular in Rome - by Borromini (1637-50), and was designed as a place where they could live, work and pray in common. A notable feature of the building is the finely articulated facade, which contrasts with the adjoining church in height, form and coloring. The Sala del Borromini, in the former Oratory, is now used as a concert hall. The Oratory also contains the Biblioteca Vallicelliana, the oldest library open to the public in Rome.