Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli, Baroque church on Quirinal Hill, Rome, Italy.
Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli is a baroque church on Quirinal Hill with a single nave and three chapels running down each side. A barrel vault overhead displays rich decorative elements that draw the eye upward throughout the interior.
Construction began in 1608 under Carlo Maderno but paused in 1613, resuming in 1628 when Giovanni Battista Soria took over the design until the consecration in 1640. This timeline reflects the gradual artistic realization that spanned three decades.
The church honors Saint Catherine through artistic works that remain visible today and shape how visitors experience the spiritual focus of the space. The elaborate marble relief at the main altar draws immediate attention and defines the interior atmosphere.
The entrance is reached by a double staircase that was built after the construction of Via Nazionale in the 19th century lowered the street level. These stairs compensate for the height difference and lead directly to the church door.
An underground crypt called the Crypt of the Fallen holds a bronze crucifix by Romano Romanelli that commemorates priests who died during World War I. Many visitors miss this memorial, though it reveals an important connection to the city's wartime past.
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