Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, Baroque church in Via Veneto, Rome, Italy
Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini is a baroque place of worship on the busy Via Veneto in central Rome. The structure consists of a single nave with ten side chapels housing paintings, sculptures and altars dating from the 17th century.
The pope commissioned the building between 1626 and 1631 to honor his late brother, a friar of the order. The project arose at the same time as the nearby Palazzo Barberini and was meant to make the family's connection to the city permanently visible.
The name refers to a branch of Franciscan friars known for simplicity, whose brown hooded robes became common in 16th-century Italy. Visitors today notice the plain travertine facade and restrained interior, reflecting the order's rule of humble living and deliberate avoidance of luxury.
The entrance sits directly on the street, a short walk from Barberini metro station. Visitors planning to see the underground rooms should wear modest clothing and allow extra time, as access involves descending a staircase.
The underground vaults hold the skeletal remains of around 4,000 friars who died between the 17th and 19th centuries. The bones were arranged into patterns and symbols that decorate five small crypt rooms and create their own atmosphere.
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