Rome - Santa Maria della Vittoria

Santa Maria della Vittoria commemorates the Emperor Ferdinand II's victory in the battle of the White Mountain near Prague in 1620 during the Thirty Years' War, which was attributed to the intervention of the Virgin. The church, previously dedicated to St Paul, then received an image of the Virgin, found at Pilsen and reputed to be miraculous, and was re-dedicated under its present name.

This attractive Baroque church, built by Carlo Maderna in 1608-20 (restoration 1990-91) for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, is of imposing effect with its finely contrived decoration of colored marble, rich stucco ornament and paintings. The most impressive thing in the church, however, is the altar of St Teresa of Avila (fourth chapel on the left), created by Bernini for Cardinal Cornaro. St Teresa (1515-82), the mystic and writer who re-founded the order of Carmelite nuns, is depicted in a state of ecstatic rapture, pierced by the love of God which is symbolized by the arrow of the angel who hovers over her. In the sacristy are pictures and flags commemorating the battle of the White Mountain.