San Nicola ai Prefetti, Catholic church in Campo Marzio district, Rome, Italy

San Nicola ai Prefetti is a church on Via dei Prefetti in the Campo Marzio district, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari. Its facade is set between two wings of the former Dominican convent and carries a stucco medallion of Pius V. Inside is a single nave under a barrel vault, with two altars on each side.

According to tradition the church predates Pope Zachary (741–752); it is documented from 1192 as San Nicola de Prefecto, named after the nearby palace of the Prefetti di Vico. In 1524 Gaetano di Thiene chose it for his new Theatine order, who left three years later during the sack of Rome. Pius V gave it to the Dominicans of Santa Sabina in 1567; rebuilding ran from 1582 to 1730, with the presbytery redone in the mid-19th century. Since 1927 the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have served it.

The name "dei Prefetti" refers to the Di Vico family, called Prefetti because they held the city prefecture from Pietro Di Vico in 1297 to Giacomo Di Vico in 1485; their palace is now Palazzo Firenze. The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari. At the high altar is the Mater misericordiae icon, which tradition says moved its eyes in 1796–1797 and was moved here in 1854 from a nearby lottery shop.

The church is an annex of the parish of San Lorenzo in Lucina and stands on Via dei Prefetti in Campo Marzio. The facade is set between two wings of the former convent, so it is easy to pass without noticing; look for the stucco medallion of Pius V above the entrance. The interior is a single nave with a barrel vault and two altars per side.

The venerated icon of the Madonna Mater misericordiae, kept at the high altar, was moved here in 1854 from a nearby lottery office: after the image was said to have moved its eyes between 1796 and 1797, the crowd of number players became so great that the transfer was decided.