St. RITA

S. RITA
Via delle Vergini 21

1615 as S. Maria delle Vergini (St Mary of the Virgins) over a small preexisting church
Rebuilt in the years 1634/36 by Francesco Peparelli (active since about 1626/d. 1641) for Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese (1577/1633) who had ordered the nuns to move here from the Quirinal Hill for the construction of his palace, which later became Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi

FAÇADE
1696 maybe by Mattia De Rossi (1637/95)
Reconsecrated in 1904 as St. RITA after the church of St. Rita of Cascia was deconsecrated and moved from the Capitol Hill
St. Rita, after having prayed to share the sufferings of Christ on the Cross, was given a thorn from the crown of Christ, which she held stuck in her forehead for no less than fifteen years
The church is also known as S. RITA DA CASCIA ALLE VERGINI (St. Rita of Cascia at the Virgins)

INTERIOR by Francesco Peparelli

COUNTERFAÇADE
Choir organ on “Shelves with female heads” carved in wood

ALTAR ON THE RIGHT
“St. Augustine and St. Monica” about 1695 by Pietro Locatelli (about 1637/1710), a pupil of Pietro Da Cortona

PRESBYTERY
Renovated 1681/82 by Mattia De Rossi
Vault of the presbytery “Trinity” maybe by Ludovico Gimignani (1643/97)

MAIN ALTAR
“St. Rita” 1911 by Arturo Ferretti

DOME
Breathtaking fresco “Glory of Paradise” about 1695 maybe by Michelangelo Ricciolini (1654/1715)
Stucco and statues on the right “St. Joseph” and on the left “St. Augustine” 1682/83 by Filippo Carcani (active 1670/91)

LEFT ALTAR
“Christ and Mary Magdalene” 1639 by G.B. Mercati (1591/about 1645)
CHAPEL OF THE GROTTO OF LOURDES built in 1912