Madonna dell'Archetto, Chapel in central Rome, Italy
Madonna dell'Archetto is a small Neo-Renaissance oratory at Via di San Marcello 41b in the Trevi district, officially titled Santa Maria Causa Nostrae Laetitiae. Architect Virginio Vespignani lined the interior with precious marbles, Constantino Brumidi frescoed the cupola, and Luigi Simonetti provided sculptures. The venerated image of the Virgin, painted on maiolica by Domenico Muratori in 1690, stands above the altar.
Built in 1851 by architect Virginio Vespignani, the chapel replaced an earlier street shrine. This location gained attention in 1796 when witnesses reported observing the Madonna's eyes moving.
The name comes from the narrow arch, or archetto, that once sheltered the image in the alley beside Palazzo Savorelli Muti Papazzurri. The painting is a maiolica stone panel made in 1690 by the Bolognese painter Domenico Maria Muratori. A copy of the image is set on the corner of Palazzo Castellani, between Piazza di Trevi and Via del Lavatore.
The chapel is located at Via di San Marcello 41b near Piazza dei Santi Apostoli and maintains regular opening hours for visitors. Finding it on foot is straightforward, though pay attention to the small entrance since the building is quite compact.
The chapel holds a painting on maiolica that witnesses reported moving its eyes in 1696 and weeping on 9 July 1796, during the French invasion of the Papal States. A reproduction of the image stands on Palazzo Castellani, at the corner of Piazza di Trevi and Via del Lavatore.
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