Santa Maria del Pianto

Santa Maria del Pianto is a Baroque church in Rome with a Greek-cross floor plan supported by pilasters and offering two separate entrances. The building features access points from both Piazza delle Cinque Scole and Via Santa Maria del Pianto, creating a structure adapted to its urban location.

A reported miracle occurred in 1546 when an image of the Madonna shed tears at a crime scene, prompting the construction of this church. The building was later designed by architect Nicolò Sebregondi, who created it in 1612 with a distinctive facade.

The church houses a revered 15th-century fresco of the Madonna at the high altar that gave the place its name and draws visitors seeking to experience this religious image. Two paintings by Agostino Ciampelli in the choir section complement this central work and show the artistic decoration inside.

The church has two separate entrances, allowing visitors to choose different access points depending on which direction they arrive from. It helps to know that the southern side faces Piazza delle Cinque Scole, while the main entrance is accessible from Via Santa Maria del Pianto.

The building's facade was intentionally left unfinished, displaying only labeled lintels above the entrance doors, which is an unexpected feature for this otherwise carefully designed Baroque church. This design leaves many visitors wondering whether completion was ever intended or if this was a deliberate artistic choice.