Oratorio di Sant'Andrea

The oratory is a small religious structure with a rectangular shape and a wooden ceiling bearing the Borghese family coat of arms, while marble columns frame the entrance. The interior space is organized simply, emphasizing the artwork on its walls.

A cardinal initiated the restoration of this ancient structure in the early 1600s, and another cardinal completed the work shortly after. The rebuilding brought the structure back to use and secured its continued importance.

The walls inside display frescoes created by Guido Reni, Domenichino, and Giovanni Lanfranco that show scenes from Saint Andrew's life. These paintings shape how the space feels and reveal the artistic ambitions of the period.

The site sits on Piazza di San Gregorio in the Celio district and stands between two other similar buildings, making it easy to locate. Visitors should know that the nearby Santa Maria Maggiore basilica manages and maintains the space today.

When the building was reoriented during restoration in the 1500s, ancient frescoes from the 10th and 11th centuries were revealed on what had been the outer wall. These rediscovered paintings show Christ and Prophets in an older artistic style that differs from the later Renaissance work inside.